After being mobilized for the compulsory one year of national service all Nigerian graduates are mandated to participate in, I was shocked to my marrows to find out that I was posted to Benue State.
Although, I was expecting it right from when I selected the states I'd likely be posted to, I was at the same time not enthusiastic about being posted to the region especially after hearing all manner of things about the state.
But given the fact that the National Service is compulsory, I had to subject my displeasure to my obligation as a citizen to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Owing to the fact that I've not travelled that far before especially by road, I decided to leave my house quite late thonking I will still be able to get a bus at the terminus. But when I got there, I was surprised to learn that the journey from LAGOS to MAKURDI is nothing less than 12-13 hours by road and that all the buses tgat leave Lagos for Makurdi leave as early as 5am.
I then had to stay all day at the terminus so that I could get on the first bus the next day which I did.
I left the bus terminus at Ikeja around 5:12am and I got to the oriebtation camp at Wannune, Benue State by 1:05am the next morning.
Aside the nerve and body wrecking journey, I was as well subjected to so many regorous processes of corp members' registration, drills and activities for the 21 days of the oriebtation course after which we were posted to various local government areas where we are to spend the rest of the service year in national service.
While I was expecting to be posted to the big cities in Benue like Makurdi and Gboko, I was shocked once again when I was posted to Tarka Local Government the Land Lord of NYSC as people say because the Permanent orientation camp is in the local government area.
Initially, on getting to the school I was assigned to, I thought I wasbt going to cope because it is hard for a graduate of accounting to teach Basic Sciebce and Agricultural Sciences to primary school pulpils. But in the spirit of the national service, I had to start doing the beat I can the way I can.
Aside my Place of Primary Assignment PPA for short, the family house where I currently reaide in which belongs to the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship Tarka Chapter has in no small way helped me settle down and have a new perspective even about staying in a rural community like Wannune compared to the kind of life I was erstwhile exposed to in Lagos.
So far, the host community have been very hospitable and friendly. In this regards, I have gotten plently foodstuff from them and several offers of dinner in their houses.
Besides that, power supply is relatively constant and water supply is readily available except during the dry seasons especially in the months we are in when the wells which is our primary source of water have a tendency of drying up if not well dug.
Lest I forget, the Local government is one with one of the lowest crime rates in the country to the extent that one can walk on the streets in the wee hours of the morning without the fear of being harrassed.
I will not fail to recognise my ever jovial and supportive co-corp mebers who have made my stay so far a successful one especially @okoro who was able to opeb my eyes to the potentials and benefits accrued to being on the steemit platform. You are simply the bomb!!!
I wouldnt have been here without this great man @okoro. Remember I have told you that very soon, I'll buy you a bottle of wine just to appreciate all your efforts to enlighten me on how to be an effective steemian and on cryptobusiness even when I had several doubts about it.
I wouldnt have met this man if I had my way and went to Makurdi and I also wont have been able to give my fellow steemians somethong to look forward to via my posts.
I guess I have spoken too much!! LOL!!!
Now, I will let my photos do the talking to fulfil the saying that goes thus, "A photo speaks more than a thousand words".
At the NYSC permanent orientation camp Wannune, Benue State
On the parade ground during the compulsory 21 day orientation course
Feeling happy with fellow Jesus corpers at NCCF Family house Tarka Chapter in Wannune
During NCCF 2017/2018 executives first visit to their family house permanent site
During one of our numerous Community Development Service(CDS) sensitization at James Kuv schools
During my visit to NKST church for the baptism of one of my neighbours and an indigene
*During one of our frequent lunch appointments winks
Corper hustle after the just concluded Batch B stream 1 orientation course
Posing for photos at a natural fish pond on our way to CDS
Thanks for viewing!!
Looks like you had fun! The fish pond picture is very beautiful
See people