Life before鈥�

I grew up in a very humble background. And when you鈥檙e in that kind of situation, your reality forces you to create alternate universes where you dream big as an escape.

I wasn鈥檛 athletic at all, so while other kids played street football, I disappeared into books. I loved international thrillers from writers like James Hadley Chase and Tom Clancy. My dad would also bring home newspapers, and I devoured those too. So from quite a young age, I was already building an interest in government and geopolitics.

Government was my best subject in secondary school, so I went on to study International Relations at university. I dreamt of becoming a foreign service career officer, maybe even an ambassador one day.

Maybe it wasn鈥檛 meant to be, or maybe the chance will still come later. But my time at the National Assembly (NASS) showed me the worst sides of Nigerian politics.

Preparing for NYSC

Ending up at NASS was honestly by chance. I wasn鈥檛 trying to get posted there, but looking back now, I see how my choices and attitude made it happen. There was a lot of luck involved too.

At university, I got along really well with my lecturers. With their advice and encouragement, I already had my path mapped out. After my bachelor鈥檚, I was going to get a master鈥檚, maybe even a doctorate, and then join the department as a lecturer at my university.

One of my professors told me that the most likely route to the foreign service roles I wanted was through academia. So I didn鈥檛 see NYSC as an opportunity, just an obstacle I had to clear before continuing my academic journey.

That鈥檚 why I wasn鈥檛 too bothered about where I鈥檇 serve. Luckily, I got posted to the seat of power: Abuja.

Being friendly in camp was helpful

This is where things get serious. First of all, remember, this is Nigeria. For a place like the National Assembly, a lot of placements are already reserved for the connected.

So if, like me, you know absolutely no one, the best way to give yourself a chance is to get into a leadership position at camp. At the time, I didn鈥檛 realise I was helping my chances. I was just being myself.

Everybody likes a humble, approachable guy. And that鈥檚 naturally who I am. I鈥檓 outgoing and I love meeting people. So I had no issues walking up to people to introduce myself and get to know them.

You鈥檒l find that most people want friends but don鈥檛 want to be the first to initiate. They put up aloof fronts but are pleasantly surprised when someone stretches out a hand for a shake and starts a conversation.

Because I was forward in making friends, I got quite a number of them. So when the platoon leadership elections came up, I indicated interest, and with  votes from all my new friends and acquaintances, I won. It was a landslide, to be honest.

Platoon leadership was a stepping stone

I became platoon president, but there are other positions too, like vice president or treasurer. Try to get one of these roles if you can.

As platoon leader, your job is to organise your platoon for morning drills, kitchen duty, cleaning, and so on. That means you interact with camp officials a lot. You also coordinate your platoon鈥檚 participation in camp events like sports, pageants, and marching. I made sure my platoon did well in everything. We made the podium in all activities.

I had to do a lot of legwork. Not just because I was platoon leader, but because this was Abuja. Let鈥檚 just say a lot of the corpers there were privileged.

Some basically came, registered, and left only to return on the last day of camp. Others stayed during the day but went home at night. Black tinted SUVs were constantly coming and going.

These were the type of people who would quickly contribute funds for whatever needed doing, but I had to do the heavy lifting myself. At the end of the day, being active helped me build a good rapport with the camp officials, and that鈥檚 exactly what you need to do.

The meeting

Near the end of the three weeks in camp, the officials called us platoon leaders for a meeting. That鈥檚 when they asked if we had places we鈥檇 like to be posted to.

Considering my career goals, I immediately said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But it turned out postings there are in high demand, and far more connected people had already made requests. The  Ministry of Foreign Affairs was off the table, so I was told to pick between the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the National Assembly (NASS). I chose NASS.

Reporting for duty

Those of us posted to NASS took our documentation and went there. At the gate, once you show your papers, they give you a visitor鈥檚 tag and let you in. We were ushered into an office, and from there different offices would come and pick from among us. Sometimes representatives requested specific ethnicities or genders.

Of course, this didn鈥檛 happen in a single day. Nigeria isn鈥檛 the kind of place where things move that fast. Over several days, we鈥檇 go, sit in a room, enjoy the AC, scroll on our phones, and wait. Each day, a few people got picked.

One day, while I was chatting with other corpers, a lady came in, pointed at me and another guy, and said, 鈥淵ou and you, follow me.鈥� We followed.

As we walked, she asked if we knew anybody. We said no. Then she asked the other guy his ethnicity. He was Yoruba. She told him to go to the Speaker鈥檚 office. She asked me the same. When she heard I was Igbo, she looked disappointed. She thought for a bit, then told me to go to the office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and tell them she sent me.

So I went. I met the clerk鈥檚 assistant, told him she sent me, and he just pointed me to a desk. That was it.

The clerk鈥檚 office

The clerk鈥檚 office handles general administration and welfare for the House of Representatives.

On the admin side, all bills pass through the clerk鈥檚 office before they ever get to the floor. It鈥檚 also where all the keys are kept. If anyone wants to access a room, they come to us.

On the welfare side, once items like office furniture or cars are approved, the budget goes to the clerk. The office receives bids from contractors, buys the items, and distributes them to members.

Most days, I鈥檇 come in, greet everyone, then start with the register of keys. People sign keys out, so I鈥檇 check who hadn鈥檛 returned theirs. Then I鈥檇 go from office to office to collect them. That took time, but afterwards you basically just sit, relax, go for lunch, gist, and watch TV.

Some days, though, politics demanded certain bills be passed quickly. We鈥檇 stay till as late as 11 p.m., fine-tuning the bill. We worked with the legislative aide of whichever representative owned the bill to make sure it was ready for the floor. I knew my stuff, so my boss valued my input.

ALSO READ: I Got a PPA That Paid Me 鈧�250,000 During NYSC. Here鈥檚 How I Did It

The lifestyle

We were paid a salary in addition to the NYSC allowance. And honestly, money flowed freely at NASS. Any politician who came to the clerk鈥檚 office would gift us before leaving. 鈥淐orper wee, have this,鈥� 鈥淲ell done, corper. Take this one.鈥� 鈧�10,000 here and there, it adds up. I usually left with around 鈧�50,000 most days.

For a poor boy like me, I hadn鈥檛 seen that kind of money before. I was just spending. I wish someone had told me to save.

Almost every day after work, we鈥檇 head to Silverbird Galleria to watch a couple of films. From there, we鈥檇 go to Trukadero. Opposite Trukadero was Cubana, so we鈥檇 cross over. Then off to Moscow Underground. We were basically touring Abuja. I have to admit, the nightlife in Abuja is great. It was really fun.

Getting retained after service鈥� Or not

First tip: know your stuff. I did.

I was really good at my job. The Nigerian bureaucracy is full of inefficiency, so I quickly got to work drafting new process documents to make things smoother. My work started getting noticed, and my boss even wanted me to stay after service. Unfortunately, I didn鈥檛 fit very well into the culture there, and that ended up working against me.

But here are some tips that might help you have better luck.

How to get retained

Be morally flexible. At NASS, money flows freely. Too freely. Like I said, I would accept gifts from visiting politicians. But every bill has to pass through the clerk鈥檚 office, and people are always looking to grease the wheels with cash. I wasn鈥檛 ready to collect those kinds of monies, and in that environment, that makes you 鈥渦ntrustworthy.鈥� They鈥檙e very cautious of potential whistleblowers.

Never discuss politics. It sounds ironic, but at the National Assembly, avoid all talk about Nigerian politics. Especially any critique of how politicians aren鈥檛 doing well. And absolutely do not talk about religion.

Be humble. Or at least act humble. Basically, be a mumu. Unfortunately for me, I wasn鈥檛.

One day, I came to the office and saw someone at my desk. I politely asked him to get up so I could work. To be honest, I think I fell for a trap. It exploded into a big issue.

Apparently, I鈥檇 broken some unwritten rule where you can鈥檛 tell someone to get up if they鈥檙e 鈥渉igher鈥� than you in some hierarchy I didn鈥檛 even know existed. That鈥檚 how I got banished from the clerk鈥檚 office to some inactive committee. That鈥檚 when I knew it was over.

So yes, be 鈥渉umble.鈥� Remember you鈥檙e dealing with people whose survival depends on staying close to power. If they sense any form of threat from you, they鈥檒l do their best to get rid of you.

Maybe if I had kept my head down, I鈥檇 have been retained. Maybe if I had been more of a politician.

In summary鈥�

Assuming you studied an appropriate course (political science, government, international relations, etc) and you find yourself posted to Abuja.

• At camp, be a social butterfly. You鈥檒l need people鈥檚 support for the elections.
• Contest for a platoon leadership position. That support comes in handy here.
• If you win the elections, be a very active leader. Be respectful and try to build a rapport with the camp officials.
• When you get the opportunity, ask for your desired placement.
• At NASS, be good at your job, work hard and be humble.
• Fingers crossed Nigerian politics doesn鈥檛 do its thing.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of subjects

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Here鈥檚 how she did it: 

Life Before NYSC

I had heard people say that the National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme was a waste of time, but it felt like a great idea because I didn鈥檛 know what to do with my life. 

I was 20, a fresh graduate of Mass Communication and broke. So when the registration portal for Batch A, 2023, was opened, I was one of the first people to register. 

I didn鈥檛 believe in vision boards at the time, but I had a mental image of what I wanted the next year to look like. I wanted to be fully employed and earn enough to start living independently. 

Preparing for NYSC

A few months before leaving for camp, I created a plan to help me achieve those goals. First, I made a realistic list of the hard and soft skills I had picked up. I also listed my interests to understand what industry and job role would be perfect for me. 

I studied Mass Communication and was mostly interested in advertising and public relations. Before I graduated, I also started writing as a means of livelihood. After weighing my options, I chose to go into content marketing. It made sense. I was a great writer and had picked up basic Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) skills. 

I was in Ibadan at the time, and I knew I had to have at least one corporate experience if I wanted to work in a good Primary Place of Assignment (PPA). So, I started searching for a place to intern. I wanted a tech startup because of its fast-paced nature. 

I created a portfolio to showcase my skills using and paid an expert to revamp my CV. Then, I searched for the nearest tech startups next to me. One of them stuck out to me 鈥� it was an edtech startup close to my house. 

I don鈥檛 know why I thought this was the best idea, but I printed my CV and dropped it off at their office. Unfortunately, I wasn鈥檛 allowed to see the Human Resources (HR) manager the first time I went. So, I went again a second, third and fourth time.

They must have gotten tired of my shenanigans because the secretary burst into laughter the second she saw me at the office for the fourth time and took me straight to HR, who informed me they weren鈥檛 hiring. I wasn鈥檛 even looking for a paid role, so when she said, 鈥淚f we were to hire you, how much would you want to earn?鈥� I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, 鈥淧ay me 鈧�30,000.鈥�  That鈥檚 how I got my first content marketing internship. 

Pitching to Potential PPA鈥檚 

I was still at the edtech company when I started looking for my PPA. I knew I wanted to serve in Lagos, so my search for advertising agencies to intern with was streamlined. I had 20 agencies on my list and pitched to all of them. 

There are two major ways to find the people you need to pitch to, wherever you intend to serve 鈥� LinkedIn or company career pages. You should have a good profile (nice headshot and description) before sending potential employers messages. With LinkedIn, you can find the employees of a company on the company鈥檚 page itself. Look out for people who hold major roles that either align with what you are looking for or make hiring decisions. 

The next step is to send a message before making a connection. When you find the employee you want to connect with, go to their LinkedIn profile, click on the three dots next to 鈥渕essage鈥� and select 鈥減ersonalise invite.鈥� 

Here鈥檚 one of the messages I sent during the process:

鈥淗ello, Mr. X. I hope you’re well. I’m a content marketer, and I would like to ask you a few questions about your work at company X, if you don鈥檛 mind.

Let’s connect so we can chat more. Thank you!鈥� 

You can make a few changes to your personalised invite. When they respond, you should ask whether the company hires corpers. If you really hit things off, you can talk them into giving you a direct email address to send your cold pitch to. 

A simple way to do this is to go to the company鈥檚 career website and send your cold pitch to the recommended email address. 

How I Wrote My Cold Pitch Email + Free Template 

Once you have your email, you can shoot your shot. Here鈥檚 the template I created to guide the multiple applications I submitted. 

鈥淒ear Hiring Manager,

My name is XXX, and I am a National Youth Service Corps member. As per the nation鈥檚 requirements regarding the NYSC scheme, I must complete a 1-year internship in an area related to my discipline. Through this email, I would like to officially state my interest in joining company X for an internship as a [job role]. 

During my time as a [job role] at [previous workplace], I developed key skills, including xxx, which contributed to a 25% increase in social media engagement and a 30% rise in web traffic within just four months. These results show the value I can bring and why I鈥檇 be an incredible addition to company X.

I have provided my resume and a link to my portfolio for you to review. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how my qualifications can benefit your company during my compulsory service year. 

Sincerely,

齿齿齿鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

Please note: The subject of this story created this template in 2023 and suggests you use it only as a guide to shape yours according to this year鈥檚 standards.

Negotiating salary and getting a request letter before going to the NYSC camp

After my last internship experience, I learned never to blurt out the first figure that comes to mind. So before my official interview with the company I eventually joined, I checked their Glassdoor reviews to see what employees were saying about the company’s payment system. They offered me 鈧�150,000 as a starting salary with a promise to review it after probation. I pushed further and asked that a 鈧�100,000 raise after probation be clearly stated in my employment contract.

I also informed them that I would need a request letter before going to camp. It鈥檚 important to submit a request letter in camp; without that, you鈥檒l be obligated to serve wherever NYSC picks you up. 

Here鈥檚 the template I sent to the company:

The State Coordinator

N.Y.S.C Secretariat,

lyana Ipaja,

Lagos State.

Dear Sir/Madam,

REQUEST FOR YOUTH CORPER TO SERVE IN OUR ORGANISATION

With regards to the above matter, we are writing in request for Corper XXX with call up number XXX to serve in our organisation as a Junior Content Associate. Her posting to the company will be beneficial to us.

Name: XXX

Call-up No: XXX

We sincerely hope our request will be granted.

Regards,

X 

Serving in My Primary Place of Assignment 

On the last day of orientation camp, every corper gets a posting letter. I had already submitted my request, so there were no surprises. I resumed at my PPA and got right into my duties. Some days, I forgot I was a corper because my role was full-time.

Adjusting to Lagos was tough at first 鈥� I spent an average of four hours in traffic daily. Still, I was happy. Honestly, I believe I lucked out with that company. I made lifelong friends, did great work, and got to collaborate with brands I used to fangirl over. Overall, it was a 10/10 experience. The year flew by so quickly that I decided to stay on with the company even after my service year

Ever had a moment where Nigeria鈥檚 systems made life harder鈥攐r unexpectedly easier? We want to hear about your personal experiences that reflect how politics or public systems affect daily life in Nigeria. Share your story with us 鈥攚e鈥檇 love to hear from you!

When did you first realise the importance of money?

That was around 2013 or 2014. My mum had a lucrative business importing rice and groundnut oil from Cotonou. But that year, customs seized her goods, and her finances never fully recovered. 

Since my mum was the only parent who took on the financial burden at home, the situation affected us children, too. I was in JSS 3 and was sent out of school for the first time ever. We were halfway into the term, and my school fees were still unpaid. My boarding school was in a different state, and my housemaster literally put me on a bus and followed me back to my mum鈥檚 shop in Lagos.

This experience was a clear lesson about the importance of money.

Do you know why all the financial burden was on your mum?

My dad wasn鈥檛 involved. I don鈥檛 even know what he did for money; he just went out and returned home every day. My mum paid for everything, even the school fees of a cousin who stayed with us after losing their father.

But things changed after customs seized my mum鈥檚 goods. As a child, I loved corned beef and even took it to school almost daily. That had to stop. 

Our financial situation also affected my mum mentally; she started shouting in her sleep and was constantly thinking about money. It was a tough period that also influenced how I think about money today.

How so?

My mum’s money problems showed me that money really does a lot, but it is also fickle. You can have so much today, and then a random problem comes and takes all the money away. 

Also, it drove me to want to make money, and I took the first opportunity I got when I entered uni. In my first year, I accidentally started a food business with my cousin, who was in 200 level.

How do you accidentally start a food business?

I didn鈥檛 know I could cook. But I noticed that people often complimented my meals and wanted me to cook for them. One day, I thought, 鈥淚 can make money with this thing.鈥� 

I spoke to my cousin, and we started. This was in 2019.

My cousin was more popular in school, so she found customers and took care of deliveries; I just cooked. I mostly made the meals in large bowls. There was no standard price, but 鈧�3k could cook a bowl of soup with meat and other proteins. My cousin and I shared the money. I can鈥檛 remember how much we made weekly, but business was good. 

The income from cooking helped augment the occasional 鈧�2k my mum sent for my upkeep. One time I even saved some money and sent it to my aunt to waybill thrift clothes to me at school so I could sell them. The thrift business didn鈥檛 take off, though. I ended up wearing most of the clothes. 

We ran the cooking business for two semesters and stopped when my cousin transferred to a private university. I tried to keep the business going and started delivering the food. But a customer tried to harass me on a delivery run, so I quit. 

Phew. What did you do next?

In 200 level, I worked with a housing agent in my school. I just had to sit down in their shop and sell the mattresses. The job was shift-based; I could leave when I had lectures because there were other students, and we took turns staying at the shop. My salary was 鈧�8k/month.

At the same time, I started a cleaning business. The agent also rented houses to people, so it was the perfect way to get clients. When people came to rent, I offered my cleaning services. I mostly made 鈧�2k – 鈧�3k cleaning self-contained apartments. The money was small, but I needed all the money I could get. The highest I made was 鈧�10k for a three-bedroom apartment. 

I did both gigs from 200 level to 400 level. Then, I stopped to focus on my final-year project.

How did you survive without the jobs?

I assisted a friend with their online business. My job was to answer clients鈥� messages and questions. It didn鈥檛 take up much of my time, so it didn鈥檛 affect my project. There was no fixed or consistent salary since my friend was essentially helping me out with something to do, occasionally paying me 鈧�20k while at it.

I graduated in December 2023 but wasn鈥檛 called up for NYSC until June 2024 because of clearance delays from my school. NYSC posted me to a private school in a village in Ekiti. I鈥檓 still there.

Does the school pay you a salary?

I guess 鈧�10k qualifies as a salary. NYSC pays a 鈧�33k monthly stipend, bringing my total monthly income to 鈧�43k. The money isn鈥檛 just small; this place is uncomfortable. 

I cried the first day I came to the town. They haven’t had electricity in years, and I pay 鈧�700 to charge my phone and power bank every two to three days. It took a lot to get used to the fact that I鈥檇 have to live in this place for a year. 

There are mud houses everywhere, and it鈥檚 almost like there鈥檚 zero development. Thankfully, the school provided a small room in the principal鈥檚 family house, which is a two-minute walk from the school. Also, I occasionally get free foodstuffs from the principal, which has helped reduce my feeding expenses. At least that鈥檚 one advantage of living in a village. 

Speaking of, what do your typical monthly expenses look like?

Another corps member recently made friends with a neighbour who has solar electricity, so charging expenses have been removed from my monthly budget. 

I manage as much as possible. Since January, I鈥檝e squeezed out 鈧�5k every month to keep in my savings. I also only buy data a little at a time 鈥� usually 鈧�500 every other day 鈥� for the course I鈥檓 taking and to keep myself company because there鈥檚 nothing else to do here. Still, I鈥檓 in debt by the end of the month because what I make is not enough, and I have to borrow from friends. 

What kind of quality of life would you say 鈧�43k gives you?

I鈥檒l maybe rate it a -10. I鈥檓 pushing myself with statements like, 鈥淭his is just a phase.鈥� 

I honestly didn鈥檛 know I could manage this money this way. I may not be doing the best job, but service year has taught me financial management. Ordinarily, I wouldn鈥檛 think of savings, yet I鈥檝e built a saving habit by force. I know how close I am to having nothing in my bank account, so I have to be smart about my financial decisions. 

In summary, NYSC has forced me to be prudent. It鈥檚 not entirely terrible, though. At least I鈥檓 better with money. But you know the funny thing?

What鈥檚 that?

The money I make now isn鈥檛 much different from what I made in university 鈥� maybe I even earned less. But the cost of things has tripled and quadrupled, and everything is so expensive. 

Before, my friend and I would gather 鈧�5k and use it to eat and buy clothes. I even bought different foodstuffs to experiment with food recipes I found online. I can鈥檛 try that now. 

For months, we鈥檝e heard rumours that the government wants to increase our stipend to 鈧�77k. I knew it was mere propaganda and would not happen anytime soon, so I didn鈥檛 even pay attention. But things are so hard. I鈥檒l be done with NYSC in May, and I can focus on improving my finances to increase my savings and care for myself.

Do you have plans for post-NYSC?

I don鈥檛 have a clear path right now; I鈥檝e just been applying to as many graduate trainee roles as I can find in any industry. I鈥檝e mostly gotten rejections so far, but I won鈥檛 relent. 

I鈥檓 taking the project management course to give me an edge in the job market. Money is my greatest motivation right now. I just want anything that will allow me to earn money and improve my financial situation. 

When I get a job and start a career, I can decide which specific path I want to specialise in, but for now, just give me money. Money is my passion.

Is there an ideal amount you鈥檇 like to earn?

鈧�500k/month. But I know I don鈥檛 have the qualifications or experience to earn such, so I鈥檇 happily take 鈧�150k. At least, that should make me somewhat comfortable. I鈥檒l still be prudent because I know what it means to lack, and I wouldn鈥檛 want to return to the same situation.

Is there anything you want right now but can鈥檛 afford?

I try not to allow myself to desire anything because I can鈥檛 afford much. But if I had to want something, it鈥檇 be a new phone. I don’t even want to check prices because where鈥檚 the money?

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1-10?

2. I have to manage and banish cravings from my mind constantly. It鈥檚 a lot. I can鈥檛 wait to be in a better place financially.

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What鈥檚 your earliest memory of money?

My parents gave me 鈧�10 daily for snacks in primary school, and I spent it on those frozen powdered drinks sold as 鈥渋ce cream鈥�. 鈧�5 could get five of those, and I鈥檇 spend the balance on whatever. Life was good.

How good?

Good enough to take food to school and still have money to spend on whatever I wanted. My parents were civil servants, and sometimes, my dad would drive me to school. We were the average middle-class family. But then, my parents separated when I was in Primary 1, and money became a problem. 

How so?

My mum, siblings and I had to leave our three-bedroom house and move in with a family friend until my mum could afford a one-room apartment. We even moved in when it was practically empty 鈥� we had just three plastic chairs.

My mum became the sole provider. I went from being the student with money to spend during lunch break to being one of the students who was sent home for not paying school fees. It was a harsh transition that lasted about three years before my parents got back together. 

They stayed together for a year and separated again 鈥� for good this time 鈥� when I was in Primary 5. This was in 2008.

What did this mean to you?

It affected me more than it did the first time. I must鈥檝e been around six when we had to leave the first time, and I don鈥檛 remember feeling sad that my dad wasn鈥檛 around. But by the final separation, I could see just how much it affected my mum financially. 

I was just about to enter secondary school, and she鈥檇 always talk about trying to raise money for my fees. At the end of the day, she had to convince my principal to waive some extra charges so I could resume school after I鈥檇 spent a few weeks at home. 

Then my mum got laid off from work when I was in JSS 2 and started selling raw grains to make money. I helped her anytime I was home from school. That was the first thing I did to earn money.

Did your mum pay you?

Yes. People in our area couldn鈥檛 afford to buy in bulk, so she鈥檇 open a bag of grains and ask me to divide them into smaller portions and tie them in smaller bags. She paid 鈧�100 for every bag I tied, and I could tie two to three bags in a day. 

I did that on and off during the weekends. In SS 2, I started selling chocolates to my classmates. I鈥檇 moved in with a family friend to reduce the financial burden on my mum, and I decided I needed to make extra money to cover transportation and other things I needed at school. 

My mum was still paying for my school fees and sending a 鈧�2k – 鈧�3k monthly allowance, but the extra money from the chocolates came in handy for additional expenses. 

What kind of profit did you make?

A pack of 80 pieces cost 鈧�300, and transportation to and fro the market cost 鈧�100. I sold each candy at 鈧�10, making 鈧�400 in profit after removing the cost of buying and transportation. 

I sold the chocolates until I left secondary school in 2014. I didn鈥檛 get admission into university until 2018. I first took on a 鈧�14k/month waitress job and then left to work as a receptionist at a photo studio for 鈧�15k/month. 

After a few months, my mum had an accident, and I had to stay home to take care of her. It was while I was at home that I started writing for money in 2016.

How did you start writing?

I read a lot and often wrote to replicate what I read. I wrote a lot about everything going on in my family. I posted some of these stories on Nairaland and met the first person who paid me to write. She paid me 鈧�1k for a 1000-word lifestyle article. She liked it and gave me three more writing gigs. I made 鈧�4500 in total from her.

I applied for more writing gigs on Nairaland and gradually got clients. I could write up to three articles weekly and earn between 鈧�6k – 鈧�10k. That became my primary source of income till I finally got into uni in 2018.

Did you continue the writing gigs in uni?

Managing the gigs and school work was difficult, especially because I used my phone to write. Since I didn鈥檛 have a laptop, I鈥檇 first write out the articles on paper before typing them into my phone. It was too stressful, so I just stopped looking for gigs.

Around the same time, I saw an advert for a modelling audition at school and decided to apply. I passed the audition and got cast to walk for a fashion show for free. I was happy to do it for the experience. The agency offered to sign me on, and I paid 鈧�5k to register as one of their models.

How does modelling for an agency work?

A modelling agency should train their models, send them out for gigs and then handle payment. Unfortunately for me, my agency only took their models to parties and clubs to meet men. 

The final straw was when they made me do a nude photoshoot. I wasn鈥檛 comfortable with my nude pictures being out for anyone to see, so I quit. I was with them for only five months.

Did you try to get gigs on your own?

I went for multiple auditions, but I鈥檓 short, and most of the casting directors said they wanted someone 5鈥�9鈥� and above. 

I didn鈥檛 get another gig until 2019 when I got paid 鈧�10k to walk the runway for a one-day show. The fashion house owner saw one of my online practice videos and liked it.

That show helped me meet other people in the industry and build a network. I started getting small modelling gigs once or twice a month. 鈧�7k for a photoshoot here and 鈧�5k to work with a make-up artist there. 

I spent most of what I made on transportation. In modelling, you鈥檙e always on the move for one rehearsal, fitting or the like, and that took a lot of my money. When I wasn鈥檛 working on paid gigs, I worked on unpaid collaborations to build my portfolio. Honestly, it was just something I enjoyed doing, so I didn鈥檛 mind that I wasn鈥檛 making much from it.

But how were you surviving?

I picked up stage decoration 鈥� mostly from watching others do it 鈥� and did the odd decoration gig for faculty and departmental functions when I wasn鈥檛 modelling. That usually brought in 鈧�10k – 鈧�15k per gig, but it wasn鈥檛 regular. I hardly got any allowance from home.  

In 2021, another modelling agency signed me. I found them on Instagram and they looked legit. I paid 鈧�15k to register, but I left after six months.

Why?

The gigs weren鈥檛 coming. None of the new models got gigs within that period, and I couldn鈥檛 even take on outside jobs. At that point, I decided to give modelling a break.

I took up a part-time job as an assistant to someone who produced cosmetics. It was just twice a week and paid 鈧�20k/month. It was the highest I鈥檇 ever made up to that point, and it helped that it didn鈥檛 interfere with school. I worked there for seven months and left when I was about to enter my final year because I needed to go for a three-month teaching practice internship.

Did you get paid for this internship?

Nope. I survived by taking random modelling and movie extra gigs on the weekends. I even got a small supporting role on a movie set once and got paid 鈧�70k after filming.

The school I interned at did try to retain me and offered 鈧�20k/month, but I didn鈥檛 take it. Around that time, I participated in a beauty contest/reality show situation that turned my life upside down.

I鈥檓 listening

I honestly don鈥檛 know why I keep falling for sham agencies, but I fell for this one. It was a pageant that was supposed to pay the winner 鈧�100k. I paid 鈧�5k for the application form, and the organisers housed me and the other contestants. Then, they began hounding us for votes.

This was how votes worked: You had to get people to 鈥渂uy鈥� votes for you by paying the organisers. Each vote cost 鈧�100, and most contestants bought their own votes just to get ahead.

I had to join them to buy votes after the organisers placed me in the 鈥渂ottom five鈥� group twice in a row. I contacted a few people for money but got no help, so I borrowed 鈧�10k from a loan app to buy my votes.

Did that help?

It kept me in the house until the main event. But then, the organisers came again and told us to start selling tickets for it, and I just gave up. 

But I still had to repay the loan, and with interest, it came to about 鈧�13500. I started getting multiple calls from the loan guys after the pay-back date elapsed, and I panicked and took another loan from a different app to pay them. That鈥檚 how my loan cycle started in 2022.

I didn鈥檛 have a strong source of income, so it was easy to fall back on more apps to repay my debt. Plus, the interests were always so much. I鈥檇 borrow 鈧�18k and have to pay back 鈧�27k. Then I鈥檇 borrow 鈧�27k and have to pay 鈧�35k. 

My debt had grown to 鈧�78k when I saw a WhatsApp BC about an opening for bikini girls for a pool party.

Bikini girls?

Dancers. We just had to dance in bikinis. The pay was 鈧�6k for a one-day event. I鈥檇 never worn a bikini in public before, but I was desperate for money. So, I applied and got the gig. I danced and got paid, but the organiser complained I was too self-conscious and stiff.

A week later, I got another bikini dancing gig for two weekends. That one paid 鈧�12k in total. I got another gig at a lounge that paid 鈧�5k to dance every Friday. I noticed the other girls got tips when they danced close to the men. So, I did the same thing and made 鈧�15k in tips on the first day.

I danced for a month and made enough money to clear my 鈧�78k debt. There was no reason for me to take the gigs anymore, so I left most of the WhatsApp groups that posted those jobs. But two weeks later, I realised I was pregnant. I couldn鈥檛 tell anyone, and I couldn鈥檛 keep it either, so I Googled options for an abortion. I found medication online that cost 鈧�38k. I didn鈥檛 have money, so I returned to the loan apps. I borrowed 鈧�45k and bought the drugs. While waiting for the drugs to be delivered to me, I had a miscarriage.

Damn

I couldn鈥檛 get a refund, and I had a debt of 鈧�70k 鈥� the loan amount + interest 鈥� to clear. The fastest way I knew to make money was to return to dancing, so I did that. 

I found a club that hired strippers on a tip-sharing basis 鈥� they took 40% of every tip the dancers made. I worked there for a week and made 鈧�30k. I left because they didn鈥檛 allow dancers to wear masks, and I wasn鈥檛 comfortable.

The next gig I found only required me to strip dance at a lounge on Fridays and get paid 鈧�15k. Thankfully, I was allowed to wear a mask. I sometimes had sex with male customers to get extra tips 鈥� usually up to 鈧�15k/week. It weighed a lot on my conscience, so I only had the courage to work once every two weeks. That worked for a while, and I was able to reduce my dependence on loans. 

But then, I hit a setback in 2023.

What happened?

I lost over 鈧�200k to a fake Instagram vendor. I was trying to buy a phone, and the vendor looked legit. I borrowed the money from several loan apps. But the vendor took my money and blocked me. Thinking about it now, it was a very unwise decision.

I began another round of borrowing to repay the different apps. But again, their interest rates were high, and within three months, my debt had grown to 鈧�700k.

Yikes. What was the plan to settle that?

I had to start stripping every weekend to meet up. Sometimes, I dance twice weekly, depending on how often the gigs come. 

I graduated from university in 2023 and am currently serving, but I still have debt, so I strip and dance. I do any job I can find at clubs: bikini dancing, bottle service and stripping. I make at least 鈧�50k weekly.

How much do you currently owe?

鈧�215k. I created a list with all the apps I owed and gradually paid them off according to who I first borrowed from to limit the multiple calls and reminders to pay. They even called my mum and sister multiple times to threaten them. But I was determined not to borrow from more apps to pay back my debts, so it helped me progress. I鈥檓 not putting myself under any pressure to pay anymore. When I have, I pay.

You mentioned you鈥檙e currently serving. The extra income must be welcome

It is. I started NYSC in February, and my PPA pays 鈧�30k/month. Then there鈥檚 the 鈧�33k NYSC stipend. However, I spend 鈧�30k monthly transporting to and from my PPA, where I work as a front desk officer. So, it鈥檚 only the 鈧�33k stipend I can say is mine. I also rented a 鈧�300k/year apartment in March, so saving for rent takes part of it.

Can you break down these expenses into a typical month?

Thankfully, I鈥檓 the youngest in my family, so there鈥檚 no black tax. I also don鈥檛 have a 鈥渇lex鈥� budget because I know I鈥檝e been super irresponsible with money in the past, and I鈥檓 just trying to move past my mistakes. 

My experiences have made me a lot wiser. For instance, I currently have 鈧�120k saved up for rent that鈥檚 due next year. My relationship with money isn鈥檛 healthy yet, but I鈥檓 on the right path.

How do you juggle a 9-5 with the many gigs you do?

There are days when I go to the lounge to dance straight from my PPA and then go from there back to work the next day. That鈥檚 after dancing in heels for hours. But I don鈥檛 have a choice. I have to dance so I can pay off my debts.

Apart from the long hours, stripping can also be very demeaning. It鈥檚 a mental struggle. I can be dancing on my own and someone would come and try to pull off my lingerie or touch me. Some days, I finish working and go back home to cry. Like, this isn鈥檛 what I鈥檓 supposed to be doing.

I make sure to always wear masks as a way to preserve the little dignity I have left. I overhear snide remarks from male customers all the time. Stuff like, 鈥淭his one is only good for sex鈥�. It鈥檚 crazy how people judge you for the same things they鈥檙e there for, but this is Nigeria.

Have you considered what the next few years of your life might look like?

I鈥檓 actively planning for my future. I hope to transition into tech after NYSC, and I鈥檓 taking courses in preparation. One is a virtual assistant course, and the other is about using AI to write. Both courses cost me 鈧�57k, but I see it as investing in my future.

How much do you think you鈥檒l earn monthly from these skills?

鈧�500k/monthly would be a good starting point. The aim is to earn in dollars.

Rooting for you. Do you have financial regrets? Apart from the loans

I wish I鈥檇 reached out to family and friends when I first got into the loan cycle. My parents don鈥檛 support me anymore, but I could鈥檝e reached out to my siblings and friends for help with my debt rather than going at it alone. 

It would鈥檝e been quite embarrassing, but at least, I wouldn鈥檛 have gotten into as much debt to resort to everything I鈥檓 doing now to get out of it.

How would you rate your financial happiness on a scale of 1 – 10?

5. It鈥檇 be higher when I start earning money in a manner I consider dignified.

Find all the past Naira Life stories聽here.

Since very little will prepare you for exactly what you鈥檒l witness in camp, we decided to do the Lord鈥檚 work and give you a glimpse of ten orientation camps to start.

Kogi

Photo source: Cassie Davies

Location: Asaya, Kabba LGA

The Kogi state governor needs to swing into action and give this camp a major facelift. Just look at that abandoned public school classroom cosplaying as a camp clinic. God, abeg.

Enugu

Photo source: Instagram/@nyscenugu

Location: Awgu LGA

Why are they feeding human beings through the louvers? And that red soil. This camp will stain your white, so you better pack cash for laundry.

Kwara

Photo source: Instagram/@nysc_kwara

Location: Yikpata, Edu LGA

I鈥檝e got two questions: What do the FG and have against tarring the camp grounds? Do they get commission from the laundry guys?

Ebonyi

Photo source: Ebonyinysccamp

Location: Macgregor College, Afikpo LGA

I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 the pictures or this camp is heavy on the Nollywood village grammar school vibes.

Anambra

Photo source: Instagram/@officialnyscanambra

Location: Umuawulu/Mbaukwu Awka South LGA

That first photo must鈥檝e been carefully orchestrated for PR. Who asked for a view of the camp through a palm tree-lined path? I suppose nature lovers would have a swell time camping here鈥� if they can manage all that red soil.

Ondo

Photo source: Instagram/@ondonysc_camp

Location: Ikare Akoko LGA

Is it my eyes or this camp is giving Obudu Cattle Ranch? They get five points for that volleyball court.

Oyo

Photo source: Instagram/@oyokopa

Location: Iseyin

Tarred roads, a volleyball court and a splash of greenery? Yes, please. But why do I feel like there鈥檒l be a lot of long-distance trekking in this camp?

Ogun 

Photo source: Instagram/@obsnyscogunstate

Location: Sagamu

I had no idea what to expect from Ogun state but surely not this nice auditorium and amphitheatre. They get B+ for effort.

Lagos

Photo source: Instagram/@nyscenugu

Location: Iyana-ipaja

Lagos camp still doesn鈥檛 have a main auditorium in almighty 2024. But if you can forgive this, they鈥檝e got the nicest volleyball court and badass three-storey hostels. Love it.

Rivers

Photo source: X

Location: Nonwa Gbam Tai LGA

You should have all the bragging rights with no questions asked when your main auditorium looks like this. 

Enjoyed reading about NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria? Read this next: 鈥淚 Was Posted to a Funeral Home鈥� 鈥� Ex-Corp Members Share Their Wildest NYSC Experiences

Anyway, I decided to rank 16 experiences that are very familiar to anyone who has ever, or will potentially answer, annoying names like Otondo, Corper Wee Wee Wee and Corper Wa Wa Wa. TF?聽

Let鈥檚 get into it.

1. Receiving your call up letter

This is where you know if you serve a living God or if your village people have plans for you. If you get the state you want, good for you. If you don鈥檛, you鈥檒l start asking yourself questions like, 鈥滻s this even necessary?鈥�

Verdict: This is fun.

2. Packing for camp

You think you know what confusion is? Wait until you hear distorted information about the number of photocopies to make, white shorts and shirts to pack, and everything else that should follow you to camp. I made a total of 100 photocopies.

Verdict: Get me out of here. 

3. Arriving at orientation camp

It might not look like it because you鈥檒l probably be stressed AF, but it鈥檚 one of the sweetest experiences because it鈥檚 real as shit. It鈥檚 the real 鈥淢ama, I made it鈥� moment followed by this next one.

Verdict: This is fun.

4. Getting your NYSC gear

If you鈥檙e still in doubt, receiving your NYSC kit will help you realise that true true, na you be the latest corper wee in town. 

Verdict: This is fun.

5. When nothing fits you

This is where chaos starts. You鈥檒l have to ask strangers if they鈥檙e willing to exchange with you. Whether you find someone or not, it鈥檚 lowkey one of the most annoying things to experience on the first day in camp.

Verdict: Get me out of here.

6. The struggle for bedspace

As someone who got the bed space closest to the room鈥檚 entrance and toilet, let me tell you that this seemingly simple activity of choosing where to sleep can define what your camp life will look like. NYSC should better make bed space and room selection part of the registration process.

Verdict: Get me out of here.

7. Bonding with your roomates

If you take a cherished moment/experience away from NYSC, it probably started from your assigned room. This is where you鈥檒l likely make friends with random people you don鈥檛 know from Adam. 

Verdict: This is fun.

8. The early morning drills

This one will make you swear from the bottom of your heart for the person who came up with the idea that birthed NYSC. 

Verdict: Get me out of here.

9. Getting your first pay

The money might only buy a plate of food at mami but yes to chopping government money!

Verdict: This is fun.

10. Discovering mami market

If you鈥檙e like me who didn鈥檛 want anything to do with camp food, the mami market will be your small mecca during your time in camp.

Verdict: This is fun.

11. Your first allawee

Of course, you鈥檙e happy AF to receive your first monthly allawee even if it鈥檒l only last a few days. 

Verdict: This is fun.

12. PPA posting

Two things can happen here: Your connect comes true and you鈥檙e posted to your desired PPA or NYSC flings you to an abandoned organisation in the middle of nowhere. Either way, the anxiety of finding out both is not recommended.

Verdict: Get me out of here.

13. Weekly/monthly CDS

Please, NYSC should begin and end with the three weeks in orientation camp. Every other activity is not necessary.

Verdict: Get me out of here.聽

14. Passing out parade

It鈥檚 like getting to the end of a badly written Nollywood script. Won鈥檛 you be happy when you see 鈥淭he End鈥�? Exactly. Let鈥檚 pack this shit up and never speak of it again. 

Verdict: This is fun.

15. The big social media post

How else will the people know you鈥檙e fit to run for office if they don鈥檛 find pictures of you posing with your NYSC certificate? Documenting is an important process of it all, please dear. 

Verdict: This is fun.

16. Jobless again

So your PPA didn鈥檛 retain you. You reach out to relatives who promised to help with a job and they say 鈥淎ired, DFKM鈥�. On top of this, the government has stopped giving you their meagre 鈧�33k. Haq haq haq. Welcome to your quarter-life crisis era.

Verdict: Get me out of here.

Take the quiz: Only People Who Did NYSC Will Get 8/12 In This Quiz

We decided to ask some ex-corp members about their experience with both postings, and they had some funny to scary stories to share.

Abraham*, 32

I suspected something was wrong the day I got my PPA posting letter and couldn鈥檛 find useful information about the company on Google. I鈥檇 heard how PPAs were scarce in Lagos and people had to show up before another corper takes up the spot. I left the orientation camp in Ipaja for Ikeja and got there around 2 p.m. Everyone I asked gave different directions but nobody knew the exact building. One maiguard saw me and offered to take me to the place. When we finally located the building, it looked deserted. We knocked, and this heavily built man came out. He said they weren鈥檛 taking corpers, and I was super relieved. Some months later, the address dropped as one of the kidnap hotspots job seekers should avoid in Lagos. 

Yemi*,40

Amuru Abam in Abia state was one scary experience. The roads were so terrible, you could barely escape falling off a bike. But that鈥檚 not what freaked me out. The locals were fetish on a different level. 

There was a big tree in the community where many people would sit for shade. But when it got cloudy, people would run from it as if their lives depended on it. They said raindrops from the tree must not touch the human body. Apparently, the tree is a deity they worship annually. It gives whatever one requests but with consequences. I was skeptical, but I avoided the tree till I completed my service year.

Balikis*, 28

My first PPA posting was to a funeral home, and I still suffer PTSD from the place till this day. I decided not to work there when I saw the company name on my PPA letter, but I still had to show up and beg them to reject me. I went there about two days after with my friend, and the owners rejected me without a fight. 

Temilade*, 28

I was dead set on serving in Lagos, which was why I was willing to starve and save up the 鈧�100k to pay my NYSC plug. The call-up letter came out and I saw Edo. How? I mean, I knew Lagos was hard and it was a gamble even after paying, but why not Ogun or Ibadan? I couldn鈥檛 believe my eyes, and I don鈥檛 remember crying that much in all of my adult years. I spent three weeks in the orientation camp and didn鈥檛 enjoy the experience because I was depressed the entire time. I finally got redeployed to Ibadan, and I made peace with that. Lagos to Edo? God, abeg o.

Ibrahim* 35

I鈥檝e spent most of my life in Abuja, but I knew I wanted to explore other parts of Nigeria when it was time for NYSC. So I just trusted I鈥檇 get one of the states I filled without working it. I was posted to Osun state and had a great camping experience. However, when it was time for PPA posting, I got a school outside the capital. Everyone already mentioned how the best places to work were in Osogbo. I finally resumed and the sight of the school threw me off with the bushes everywhere and classes looking abandoned. It was giving strong kidnap zone. It didn鈥檛 help matters when the principal showed up and spoke Yoruba. The students looked like they鈥檇 beat me up if they felt like it. I came back the next day and begged the principal to reject me, but he refused. He said they could use the extra hand and they hadn鈥檛 gotten corpers in a while. It took several days of calls from my parents before this man agreed to reject me. It felt like I was released from prison.

George*, 25

My PPA was a small company in Ekiti, and I think I was jazzed because that鈥檚 the only explanation for the two months I spent there. I basically the errand boy. There were two other workers, but we hardly spoke. Everyone showed up in the morning and stayed in their corner. I did everything from making photocopies to buying food and cleaning the office, all on a 鈧�10k monthly allowance. The CEO didn鈥檛 allow any staff into her office apart from these red-garment church people who showed up whenever and stayed in her office for hours. I don鈥檛 know how my mum noticed something was off with me, but one day she called and said she wanted to speak with my boss. Two days after the call, I was laid off and started processing redeployment.

If your answer is yes to all of the above, pay attention, or better still, grab a note and jot things down. We鈥檝e compiled the ultimate list that鈥檒l take your NYSC orientation camp experience from 鈥淕od, abeg鈥� to 鈥淐an we do this again?鈥�

NYSC call-up letter

Image source: MySchoolGist

Make sure you carry along three to five copies of this 鈥� with the original. It鈥檚 the rite of passage at the orientation camp entrance.

School ID card

Don鈥檛 leave the house without your student identification card.

School documents 

Make sure you come along with original and photocopied copies of your statement of result or degree certificate.

Clear file bag

Image source: Jumia

To keep your documents safe and secure.

Passport photograph

You鈥檒l need a lot of these during the registration process in camp. Best to come with three to six copies.

Extra white shirts and shorts

Image source: X

White is the only acceptable colour in camp, and you only get two free shirts and shorts each. It鈥檚 best to go with extra pairs since you might not have time in between activities to do laundry.

Waist pouch

This is where you鈥檒l keep important things like your phone, money, wallet, meal tickets, etc. It鈥檚 a 24/7 necessity as you鈥檒l be outdoors most of the time, and it鈥檚 not advisable to leave any valuables in your room.

Sanitary pads/tampons

Image source: Brand Afric

Ladies, the mami market traders are out to get you with their outrageous prices, so you better come prepared.

Umbrella

Image source: UBuy Nigeria

See, the sun and NYSC have a mission to completely finish you. An umbrella is how you win this battle.

Toilet paper 

The toilet is always a complete mess, even when it鈥檚 not dirty.

Toiletries 

Make sure you come with your own bathing soap, sponge, body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.

Plain white tennis shoes

Image source: X

This is your go-to footwear on the campground. Best to go with a rubber version that鈥檚 easier to maintain.

Handkerchiefs or face towels

To maintain your cool when the sun does a number on you.

Rubber slippers

For when your legs need to breathe.

Needle and thread

There鈥檒l be many ripped trousers after the Man O鈥� War activity. Best to have this before the mami market tailor charges N2k for a small stitch.

Sunscreen

With all the outdoor activities, you want to make sure your skin is still skinning after three weeks.

Bucket

Image source: Nuesroom

Might sound unhinged, but you actually need your own bucket to fetch water in camp. You鈥檒l get one from the traders at mami but at triple the price.

Marker

Image source: Konga

It鈥檒l be your best friend on camp. You鈥檒l need it mark your territory on prized possessions like your NYSC kit, bucket and provisions.

Flashlight 

Image source: Yaoota

Depending on your location, 24/7 power supply might be a thing or not. Best to keep a rechargeable flashlight close. 

Mosquito net and repellent 

Image source: PremiumTimes

The mosquitoes in camp don鈥檛 smile, so go prepared. You came to serve your fatherland, not carry malaria on top your head.

Padlocks and keys

Image source: Wikepedia

Listen, petty thieves will be after your provisions, toiletries and other supplies. While this doesn鈥檛 guarantee 100% safety, it鈥檚 a start.

Power bank

Image source: Jumia

Because how else will you capture the once-in-a-lifetime experience if you鈥檙e dealing with battery issues? Charging in Mami is an expense that鈥檒l do a number on your already slim allowance.

Provisions

Image source: Nairaland

Camp food may or may not wage a war against your taste buds. Best to have provisions you can fall back on, especially if you have no plans to make the mami traders ten times richer.

First-aid kit

Every NYSC camp has a health centre, but you might want to come with your little kit of basics like painkillers, plasters and methylated spirit. Or do you trust the government like that?

Blow it on food

Feed your stomach. Even if you perish, you won’t be the first. Or do you really need us to remind you that food is king?

Spend on your boo

You have no business singing songs like Ego Oyibo by Chike, Spending by Johnny Drille or Olamide’s Jinja if your babe doesn鈥檛 eat from your money. A lover that’ll blow salary on their babe, it’s from their allawee  will find out. This isn’t an option for the singles, but your crushes aren’t exempt.

Keep some for detty December

No matter how stifling the agbado plantation gets, there will always be a way and time for some end-of-the-year enjoyment. There’s life, why won’t you chop it?

Do community project

You don’t have to wait until God touches your heart before you decide to build a school or dig a borehole for the place hosting you. See it as a way of immortalising yourself.

Get your travelling visa

You’re already tired of Naija and you’re only doing NYSC so daddy and mummy can let you rest. Our advice? Save the money Nigeria’s giving you to get out of Nigeria.

Save till service ends

God that created children has provided what children will eat and drink. 鈧�396,000 (minus the 鈧�2k state government pays) isn’t small cash to sponsor your wishlist. Just keep your account fixed till the end of your service year. Travel, club, invest, dash, donate.. do whatever you like, my G.

While it may have been a bright idea in 1973, the security situation in Nigeria these days makes it difficult to defend its relevance. The major problem I have with the scheme is that it forces young people to travel long distances, mostly by road, to states across the country. In a country where kidnappers abound, it鈥檚 not a risk most are happy take.聽

When it was my turn to serve Nigeria in 2019, I knew I had to ensure I was posted to Lagos. Or at worst, somewhere in the southwest region. I couldn鈥檛 risk getting posted to any state that involved travelling through the roads that were notorious for kidnappers. I knew there was no way my parents were going to pay a huge ransom for me. I can imagine a kidnapper calling my dad to send 15 million naira if he ever wants to see his son alive again.

His reply:

I wanted to stay in Lagos and I鈥檇 do anything to make that happen. So I had to take matters into my own hands. I asked a few friends if they knew someone who could help 鈥渞un this thing鈥�. Someone introduced me to a guy named John Bosco*, and I begged this dude to help out.

He gave me an address to meet up with him. It turned out to be a cyber cafe, which I assumed he owned. He seemed like a fairly normal guy in his late 20s who spoke with a slight stutter and wore a gold necklace with a giant cross pendant. He boasted that he鈥檇 been helping corpers with NYSC posting and relocation for several years and had never failed, then proceeded to charge me 鈧�50k for his service. I reluctantly parted with the money and kept my faith in a guy I鈥檇 only spoken to once.
When I was eventually posted. I found out it was to Taraba state. Taraba? How? I cast my mind back to how Bosco had promised the posting was foolproof.

I tried to reach out to him to, at least, get a refund. This man had blocked me everywhere. I counted my losses and decided to make the best out of my sorry situation. 

After a journey that lasted almost two days, I arrived at the NYSC camp in Jalingo, Taraba鈥檚 capital and lined up to start my registration. As I glanced at people鈥檚 faces, one stood out. The dude looked familiar. He was tall, dark and John Bosco. The person who was supposed to be my sure plug for a Lagos posting was a corper who鈥檇 also been posted to Taraba.

What could I do? The damage was done. What鈥檚 the moral of the story? Nigeria is a crazy place.