MY NYSC EXPERIENCE BY ETIEKAK GLORY SAMUEL

I am Etiekak, Glory Samuel, a Batch "C" 2014 Corps Member from Akwa Ibom State currently serving at Okigwe Local Government Council Headquarters, NYSC Zonal Office, Okigwe LGA, Imo State.

My service year started on the 4th of November, 2014 when I reported at NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umudi, Nkwerre LGA, Imo State. While at camp, I participated in several activities. I was the Sub-Guard Commander of my Platoon (Platoon 4) during parade trainings. I was also elected the Treasurer of my platoon. All monies contributed by my platoon were in my custody. I represented my platoon in the Miss Indomie Contest. I also learnt the game of volleyball for the first time in my life. Camp was fun as I made a lot of friends too.

 My posting to Okigwe Local Government Council Headquarters played a very tremendous role in my Service Year & in my life as a whole. On the 29th of January, 2015, I was elected the Vice President of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Community Development Service (CDS) Group. Acting in this capacity till I passed out from the National Youth Service Scheme, I was able to, alongside other executives and members, organize community, school & public sensitization on relevant health, safety & environmental issues; develop the interest of my host community to participate in community development service projects; sensitize corps members on accidents & health emergencies, plan emergency management, leadership and skill acquisition lectures for members of the group. 

In March 28th and April 11th 2015 respectively, I participated in the 2015 Presidential & Gubernatorial elections. Due to the excellent performance as reflected in the Election's Result Sheet, I was recalled to participate in the Re-run of the Governorship election in Imo State held on the 25th of April, 2015.

In March & May 2015, I was also opportuned to participate in the Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) Nigeria, organized by World Health Organization (WHO). As an Independent Monitor during the whole exercise, I participated in in-process & end-process monitoring of polio-immunized children. I randomly sampled settlements, households, motor parks, playgrounds, streets & markets during the inside-household and the outside-household monitoring. I conducted checks on immunization status of households. I recorded, summarized & analyzed data gotten from the survey.

On the 19th of February, 2015, I was appointed the Assistant Corpers' Liaison Officer/Zonal Secretary by the Zonal Inspector, Pst. N. Ordu. On the 16th of July, 2015 I was appointed the Zonal Corpers' Liaison Officer (CLO), Okigwe Zone, Imo State. Aside from the general roles of a CLO, I coordinated all community development service (CDS) group activities and reported to the Zonal Inspector and the Local Government Inspector on such matters. I was equally involved in the Quarterly Report preparation, monthly/final clearance of corps members & in documentation of corps members' payment voucher, queries, CDS register, etc. I was also exposed to dealing with corps members issues confidentially and interacting with people of diverse background, culture & religion. I spearheaded the renovation of the NYSC Zonal Office, Okigwe, Imo State. The renovation covered the replacement of old aluminum zincs and ceilings with new ones, the repairs/replacement of electrical wires and wiring components as well as the repainting of the two offices (the Zonal Inspector's and the Local Government Inspector's). I acted as a bridge between the corps members and NYSC. I also attended to all issues and complaints regarding corps members and the local government. Involvement in supervision of weekly & monthly sanitation around the local government council as well as the monthly sanitation conducted by Imo State government was also a major role I played as a Corpers' Liaison Officer (CLO).

This position came with a lot of challenges as well. As a female CLO, most corps members thought that meeting me will automatically & magically solve their issues. But then, they still had to pass through the right process to getting their issues resolved. Attending to phone calls & text messages promptly was my primary target. I resorted to the social media, Whstsapp primarily, in passing information across to all corps members. I spent about #9,000 monthly for phone calls, sms & data subscription. I spent my Allawee basically on transportation, calls, sms, stationery and other miscellaneous. This position made me disciplined, punctual, and gave me the ample opportunity to manage people (numbering about 200 in the LGA & over 500 at the Zonal level) of diverse background, culture & religion.

As I write this, I've done my final clearance, discharged all duties assigned to me & have attended all NYSC functions including the Job Creation Awareness organized by Skill Acquisition Entrepreneurial Development (SAED) department of NYSC. So I'm good to goooooooooooooo.

My experience all through my Service Year are really remarkable. The impact of this scheme in my life generally cannot be overemphasized. I urge every Nigerian Youth to partake in this clarion call with dedication and selflessness as a sense of responsibility, patriotism, fulfilment & accomplishment are rewards that await you at the end of the Service Year.

ETIEKAK GLORY S.
CORPERS' LIAISON OFFICER
OKIGWE LGA, IMO STATE.

*** Thanks for sharing your experience Glory, we wish you the best out there.