My Unforgettable Experience at Abia NYSC Camp

This article is a documentation of my experience at the Abia NYSC camp in Umunna Bende. The purpose of writing this is to give those who would be posted to the state in the future a glimpse of what they should expect.

Abia State is one of the five states in the South-East. It’s mostly inhabited by the Igbo, with over four million people spread across its towns and villages. The people are known to be hospitable and hardworking, mostly traders, artisans, and farmers. English is commonly spoken, especially in cities like Umuahia and Aba, while Igbo remains the native tongue.

Ummunna Bende, where the Abia NYSC orientation camp is located, sits quietly in Bende Local Government Area. It’s about forty minutes’ drive from Umuahia, the state capital. Before this whole journey began, I had only heard of places like Aba, Ohafia, and Arochukwu. I never imagined I would spend three weeks in a community tucked away in Bende.

How I Ended Up in Abia NYSC Camp

To be honest, I never thought NYSC mattered much. I graduated in January 2022, and by all expectations, I should have finished my service by now. But I kept convincing myself it wasn’t worth the stress. Many of my friends who had already gone for service kept complaining about how useless the program was. So I made up my mind to move on with my life without it.

Luckily, I got a job in Aba through a friend. It wasn’t a great job, but I was earning, and at that time, that was all that mattered. I would often tell myself, “At least I’m better than those who finished NYSC and are still looking for jobs.” I saw the scheme as a waste of time.

Then life happened.

Barely two years into that job, things went sour between my employer and me. Though we later settled the issue, the atmosphere at work had already become toxic, and I decided to resign. I started job-hunting again, determined to find something better.

But every offer I got was either equal to my last salary or worse. Then, one day, I came across a job advertisement that seemed like it was written for me. I applied and was shortlisted for an interview. Everything went smoothly until they asked for my NYSC certificate.

I didn’t have one.

I tried to explain, but that was the end of it. I didn’t get the job. That single moment humbled me. It hit me hard that I had been the fool all along. NYSC wasn’t as irrelevant as I had thought. I immediately decided to do the right thing.

💡Bonus Info: We have a dedicated NYSC Whatsapp group for 2026 Batch ‘A’ where we share timely updates. You might want to join so you don’t miss out.

Mobilization and Posting

I registered for mobilization on April 7, 2025, and was posted to Abia State for Batch A Stream II. Honestly, I was shocked. I didn’t know anyone there, and I had made no attempt to influence my posting.

I reported to the Ummunna Bende camp on June 11, carrying my small box and a skeptical mindset. My goal was simple — get through it and gather my own “bad NYSC experience” story to tell later.

But that wasn’t what happened.

The moment I arrived, I was handed a garden egg at the gate — a small but warm gesture that disarmed me. The soldiers searched my bag thoroughly, and then I was directed to where hostels were being allocated. Every hostel was under renovation, and though the buildings looked okay, the toilets had no running water yet. I remember thinking, “This is going to be rough.”

After getting my mattress, which looked like it had served since Obasanjo’s regime, I picked the cleanest bunk I could find. A few minutes later, a guy from Benue came in and took the upper bunk. That’s how we became friends for the rest of camp.

Registration Process at Abia NYSC Orientation Camp

The registration was divided into three phases. In the first phase, we submitted all our documents: call-up letter, green slip, medical report, certificates, ID card, and ND/IT certificates for polytechnic graduates. They were very strict about it. Thankfully, I had come prepared because I’d already gotten the full checklist from Local Man’s WhatsApp channel.

The second phase was biometric verification. That part scared many people. If your fingerprints didn’t match, you’d be sent out of camp immediately. Luckily, mine went through. They gave me a tag with a four-digit number that ended with “5,” which I later discovered represented my platoon.

The third phase was with the platoon officers. My officer, Mr. Vitalis, handed me a new file for all my documents. He also gave me my NYSC kits; khaki, white shorts, vests, socks, jungle boots, face cap, meal ticket, handbook, and a bank form. I was assigned to Access Bank, which most corps members dreaded because of their slow services. I had no choice but to fill it anyway.

The khaki I got was two sizes too big. I had to pay ₦3,500 to amend it; a painful price I later realized could have been negotiated for half of that.

By the end of registration, I was exhausted but relieved. For the first two days, you were either registering or on the parade ground. There was no in-between.

Parade, Anthem, and Inauguration at Abia NYSC Camp

I joined the parade after my registration. We were taught the national anthem again — and to be honest, most of us had forgotten the lines. The camp’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex, took charge of rehearsals, making sure we could sing the NYSC anthem, and Abia State anthems properly before the swearing-in ceremony.

The official inauguration took place on June 13. We were all in full uniform — what they call “6/7,” which means every NYSC kit except the jacket.

The Abia State governor was expected but sent his deputy, Engineer Ikechukwu Emetu. We displayed our parade drills, sang proudly, and took the oath of allegiance. I particularly enjoyed one command — “Remove the head dress!” followed by a hearty cheer. It made me feel like part of something bigger.

That evening, we were no longer called “prospective corps members” but “gentlemen corps members.” It felt good to earn that title.

Volunteering and Camp Life

After inauguration, life in camp became serious. Morning and evening parades were now compulsory. Soldiers showed no mercy but were still friendly, especially toward the female corps members — maybe a bit too friendly.

During one of the parades at Abia NYSC camp, they called out for volunteers to join different groups: OBS, Quarter Guards, Red Cross, Sanitation, Utility, Band, Servicom, SDGs, and Digital Literacy for All.

I joined Servicom — the team that monitored service quality in the camp, including the kitchen and clinic. I also joined the SDGs and Digital Literacy groups because they sounded interesting. Those turned out to be the most impactful for me. We learned how to draft grant proposals, implement community development projects, and train locals on digital skills. It opened my eyes to how NYSC could actually empower people.

Kitchen Experience at Abia NYSC Camp

The first time the bugle sounded at 7 p.m., someone joked that it was saying, “Hungry corpers, your food is ready.”

Many people had vowed never to taste the camp food because of the horror stories they’d heard. I decided to try it myself. That night, we had garri and okra soup. The portion was small, but the soup was surprisingly tasty. The next morning, they served bread and tea — or rather, bread and warm water colored like tea.

From that day, I started buying akara and beans from mami market to complement the kitchen meals. The meal routine was almost predictable — beans, pap, and eggs for breakfast, rice or garri with soup for lunch, and yam porridge or garri again for dinner. Some corps members gave out their meal tickets to impress the opposite sex. Others used them wisely.

Mami Market and Camp Romance

Mami market was the heartbeat of the camp. Everything you needed was there — food, clothes, barbers, tailors, phone charging spots, even photographers. Prices were high, but you had no alternative.

And of course, love stories blossomed daily. Some couples looked serious; others were just “camp love” with an expiry date. I stayed out of it. I didn’t have money to play lover boy, and I didn’t want any emotional baggage. I focused on my friends and my small snacks.

If there was one thing you couldn’t avoid, it was charging your phone. The hostels had no sockets, so everyone had to pay vendors to charge their devices. It became a daily ritual.

📌 Bonus: Message on Whatsapp to process your medical fitness certificate. It is a compulsory requirement for camp registration.

The Abia NYSC Orientation Camp Officials

Among the officials, two people stood out: the State Coordinator, Barr. Mrs. Gladys Adama, and the Camp Director, Mr. Omaka Nnachi.

Barr. Adama was like a mother. She spoke with warmth and discipline, treating us like her own children. She called us “princes and princesses,” which melted hearts across the parade ground. I’ll never forget the morning it rained heavily at 4:30 a.m., and the bugle still blew for parade. The commandant insisted we must go out, quoting “under the sun or in the rain,” but Mrs. Adama intervened. She told him to let her princes and princesses rest. That single act made everyone love her more.

Mr. Omaka, the camp director, was another gem — always smiling, always on ground to supervise events. His charisma encouraged many corps members to participate in activities.

Daily Life and Lectures

Camp life was intense but structured. We woke by 4:30 a.m. and lights went off by 10:00 p.m. Each platoon took turns handling kitchen duties. Every corps member had to sign the “NYSC Book of Life” before leaving camp.

Days were packed with lectures from various agencies — SMEDAN, SON, EFCC, ICPC, NIMC, CAC, Fire Service, and others. The most impactful was SAED (Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development), which introduced us to 22 vocational skills. We learned everything from fashion to ICT, agriculture, and even blockchain basics.

We were encouraged to pick at least one skill to learn. I joined the digital literacy group, and it was worth every minute.

Competitions and Social Nights

As camp progressed, the energy shifted to competitions — parade drills, debate, sports, SAED, and cultural displays.

Platoon 5, my platoon, became the star. We won the parade competition, came second in the debate, and later clinched the football cup after a dramatic penalty shootout against Platoon 4. Other platoons supported our opponents, but we triumphed. The celebration that night at Mami was wild. We spent most of our newly paid allowance on drinks and suya.

Sadly, Access Bank decided to frustrate me. As soon as the allowee dropped, they blocked my account for “phone number mismatch.” I had to visit their branch before it was resolved.

Closing Days and PPA Posting

On the last night in camp, the Abia NYSC State Coordinator addressed us one final time. She assured us that relocation requests had been processed, though not everyone would be approved. She also introduced the Local Government Inspectors (LGIs) who would oversee us in our various LGAs.

The next morning came with mixed emotions. People were crying, hugging, exchanging contacts. The platoon officers began handing out PPA letters. I was confident mine would be in Umuahia or Aba because my Servicom group members had hinted at helping us influence postings.

When I opened my envelope, my heart dropped when I saw I’ve been posted to a private polytechnic in Umunneochi local government area.

I couldn’t believe it. Umunneochi? A semi-rural area with poor network and unstable electricity? I felt cheated. But that’s how NYSC works. You can only predict so much.

I later realized that active participation in camp might improve your chances of a good posting, but nothing is guaranteed. Your course, grades, and state requests all play roles you can’t control.

Looking Back at my Time in Abia NYSC Orientation Camp

Serving in Abia changed my perception of NYSC completely. I came in doubtful and left grateful. The scheme might not be perfect, but it’s strategic and intentional. It teaches you adaptability, discipline, and teamwork.

As for me, I ended up at that private polytechnic in Umunneochi, and life continued. The Abia NYSC camp experience gave me confidence and stories I’ll carry forever.

If you’re a prospective corps member reading this, here’s my honest advice:

• Join an authentic NYSC information channel before camp. It saves you from unnecessary stress.
• If you can afford it, influence your direct posting after registration, not during camp. Relocation in Abia mainly favors those with genuine health or marital reasons.
• Pay attention during registration. Any mistake in your details could haunt you later.
• Fix your documents before camp. Nobody will listen to your stories inside.
• Budget wisely. You don’t need to be extravagant but you should have enough money to stay comfortable.
• And please, don’t get emotionally attached to anyone in camp. Most “camp loves” expire once the passing-out parade is over. Just meet people, share ideas, and have fun.

Lastly, to Access Bank, I forgive you but I’ll never forget how you locked my account for no reason.

NYSC might not change your life overnight, but it gives you the platform to change yourself. And for that alone, it’s worth doing. Wish you the best at Abia NYSC camp or wherever state you are posted to.