Diary of A Lagos State Corper

Life After NYSC Camp

After the NYSC camp experience, we were released into Lagos city to start our service year. I got my posting letter and I was posted to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) under AIDS Prevention Initiative Nigeria department (APIN). Was I happy?? Nope. I was terrified. I studied Microbiology but majored in Industrial Microbiology.
So from Iyana Ipaja two other otondos and I left our bags and luggages with Redeemed Christian Corpers Fellowship (RCCF) bus that came to convey corpers with no accommodation to their family houses.

It took us (ie me and the other corpers) about 3hours to locate our suppose Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) and then another 1hour of climbing a 3 storey building staircase thrice to locate our  suppose APIN department. By the time we arrived APIN department working  hours was almost over so we left our letters, promising to check the next day. Phewww!

From LUTH to Ojuelegba (Surulere) to Oshodi took us another 2hours because of traffic.  At Oshodi under bridge, I got my first Lagos duping experience when a woman old enough to be my Grandmother sold me a used MTN recharge card (Ghenghen!!!) which I wanted to use and contact RCCF leaders to ask directions to the lodge. Minutes after getting over the recharge card shock, my phone battery died (typical BlackBerry battery. I told myself, Baby! Welcome to Lagos. We were stranded at Oshodi under bridge; with no idea as to where we were going and it was already 5.00pm. I tried to remember the spelling of the place in my head and started asking questions Lagosians weren't helping matters by giving us left, right, centre and left again directions. What of the continuous chanting of "Corper Wee"! Otondo!! Ajuwai!!! Government pikin!!!

After a while we were able to call the RCCF leader and we located the bus taking us there. I have never seen such a large bus in my entire life.

We arrived Ejigbo RCCF family house at about 8.00pm, ate Eba and Egusi soup (Which I wasn't a fan of) and, attended evening devotion, rules and regulations were read out to 2016 Batch A Stream 2 Corp Members and we finally retired to bed some minutes to midnight.

The next morning, I woke up by 3.00am (per my usual wake up time in camp since my body is still adjusting to normalcy), showered and went back to sleep just to be awoken by hand clapping (worst than the NYSC Camp alert) for us to wake up for morning devotion. Check my time it's was 4:50am, grudgingly stood up, dressed and went out. Devotion ended at 5:30am and everybody was ready to start the day. I was shocked! 5:30am where sleep dey sweet?? Na e we dey hustle to comot for door?? Kai! My life has changed. It might never remain the same again.

We (i mean the other corp members and I) went to LUTH, Idi-araba that morning and met the director of APIN LUTH who said APIN does not pay corp members, they do not have accommodation for corp members so if we want to be accepted we are going to work for free. Free ko! Free ni!! Me that is a JJC in this city, i have no family here, no allowance from my folks anymore and i will come and work for free? This man is out to spoil my life. Oga mbok (Sir Please) give me rejection letter besides i majored in Industrial microbiology and not Medical microbiology but the Director said he is going to pick us randomly. Hmmmmm, come and see me kabashing...Oh Lord! This is not what i came for in Lagos. Then after about an hour wait, he came back with my letter and it turned out to be A REJECTION LETTER you know that feeling of glee when God answers your prayer?…that was how i felt for being rejected from an organisation that is suppose to pay me nothing. I took it to the NYSC Lagos State Secretariat, Bode-Thomas, Surulere.

After a month, I was reposted but this time to a Secondary school.

Thanks for reading.
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