WISDOM TIPS FOR NEW CORPS MEMBERS DEPLOYED TO ANAMBRA Today, Anambra, the second most densely populated state in Nigeria after Lagos State, received new set of Batch A corpers like other states of the federation. The prospective corps members posted to Anambra need to know that the state is a dual locked state. While Onitsha, Anambra West and Ogbaru LGAs were partly water locked, other local governments were land locked. The state prides itself as the ‘Light of the Nation’ but it no doubt, has its own challenges. Understanding some of these challenges ahead will ease your stress and oil your social and emotional intelligence all through your days in camp. The tips presented below will be useful to fresh corpers. 1. Ogboju Comportment: Onitsha represents many things to a first time visitor and even the locals. The city has the good and the bad. Avoid Onitsha at night. During the day, shrug you face in an Ogboju way except you are a mesomorph. Head or tail, activate your sixth sense if you are posted there. 2. Seek Counsel: Upon your arrival, Batches B and C corps members will be waiting to receive you in Oyi Camp and later in your PPAs. Ask them questions. Let them show you the path. Prayerfully consider some of their counsels. Ignoring it may prove too costly. NCCF will be there to help you. Be wise. 3. Weigh Relocations Options Carefully: Relocation forms will begin to litter the Camp from Friday morning. Think well before you fill and submit the forms except you are married or you have genuine health complications. I know someone who relocated to another state from Camp but her NYSC allawee account never. Her new state of deployment didn’t pay her for eleven months. She was told frequently, that the transference of her account was still in process. That lasted for more than necessary. For those relocating, don’t jump any process proving you are dealing with illiterate NYSC officials. 4. Respect the ‘gods’: In most part of Anambra state, two things are sacred, worshiped and revered. They are snakes and masquerades. The two are in good quantities at different times. Snakes are in good quantity in Idemili and the number may vary in other parts of the state but the rule is ‘never kill any snake’. The locals say they are ‘friends’. NYSC officials too will codedly warn you saying “since you don’t know which of the species of snake is ‘royal’ by the state’s tradition, let all the snakes live”. If you must kill any, make sure you are not caught by locals; hence you will perform burial for the snake. If you kill any, never boast about it publicly. Next masquerades. Like the Yoruba tradition, ‘yibo’ or Igbo masquerades too are heavenly beings. The myth is that the gods sent them to earth to flog out madness and other nefarious menace out of people. Negotiating with ‘yibo’ masquerades is mostly difficult as they prefer to do the mandates of flogging than collect your N200. The State and Local governments, subtly, endorsed this practice. By July, a whole week will be devoted to the ‘game’ with schools, shops and churches shot. Last year, members of a particular church defiled the order of the masquerades and paid the price. The exception is only for those who will be posted to UNIZIK. Masquerades have learnt to avoid the prescient of the ivory tower. Death is usually not far from any messenger of the gods playing delicate game of flogging University student near Campus. 5. Learn Skills: You must start thinking what next after service from Camp now. Who says you have to live your life to chance? Avoid being carried away by the omo joba euphoria of the green khaki. It’s only for a season. People with hand-skills most time don’t get frustrated while waiting for their dream jobs. Right from camp, pay attention to entrepreneurship sessions. 6. Understanding the Transport System: Inter Local Government transport system works through the ticketing scheme. This means driver is not obliged to refund any money in case the vehicle breaks down. You are either armed with extra cash to find your way or you wait for TRACAS to send another bus where possible. 7. Gun Shots: Expect sound. Unusual sound of gun-shot and cannons do rent the air frequently. In Anambra, death is good and is well celebrated with fun-fare, popularized with posters of different sizes no matter the age of the deceased provided he or she is above 10 years. Where the deceased is classified as ‘big man’, seven cannon blasts will erupt the community, a sign for the living and the death that someone has just danced swiftly and has joined ‘their’ ancestors. At sound of such blast, never think Boko Haram is next door. 8. Avoid Night Life: Night crawling has a huge cost in the state. Be wise and stay away from functions not organized by Corpers. A friend, Corper Patrick, during our service year once paid N2,000 from Onitsha to Awka around 9:30 pm. A journey of about 40 minutes worth only N250. The unwritten rule in Onitsha is as the clock is ticking hourly at night, so the cost will increase. 9. Security: It is a common sight to see a medium-sized grocery shop with well-armed private security guards; a scenario that suggests that ‘boys’ are not smiling. If you think that’s in urban centres like Awka, I doubt. Cases of thefts and burglaries have been recorded in rural places too. Outside Camp, dress smart, handle your luggage smartly too. If you are posted to Awka, the capital, avoid residing alone in desolately isolated places or in an area populated by desperate people. Also, avoid ATMs around Ifite, Temp site Avenue at night. It may not be totally safe. 10. Contacts Counts. Right from Camp, phone numbers that will be dictated, keep such nos. Trouble may assume life someday. A colleague, Demola Aina and Ark Ikhu were nearly lynched when students of Community Secondary School, Agulu Awka revolted. I swung into action by contacting the Police PPRO, Chuwkuemeka Eze. The rest is history. Be proactive. Better have necessary nos than start searching when the need for one arises. Wishing you successful stay in Umunya!
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:35:29 +0000
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