The idea of serving at Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS) on Camp was first mentioned to me by Jésùtofunmi Prayer (MC PJ) who was a coursemate during OND years (2014-2016) during PhD Thanksgiving Service of Dr. (Mrs) Oluwakemi Omoniyi Ogungbamigbe on July 4, 2021. Because I was ignorant about the whole thing I asked too many questions about it and MC PJ gave undivided attention to my questions.
I went ahead to speak with my lecturer and boss, Mr. Chucks Okoji Taiwo and after answering my questions added "you should be there and head the place like Toba Adédèjì.
I afterwards spoke with Toba Adédèjì, Cypher Muhammad and Africa Ìtàn Ayọbami.
With these interactions it can be deducted that I got my information alright from right sources before I went to camp.
When I and my friend got letters on.... It was mixed feelings. We felt NYSC didn't only separated us but the angel carried our prayers in the opposite ways - I wanted Igbo land and he South West, I got South West and he Edo. And we were short of funds. (Afolabi Sheriff borrowed me 10k straight, and guess how much was on me when I passed through the camp gates: #35!)
My call-up letter says I resume on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 to NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ede, Osun State but I got there on Tuesday. I and my friend got to Osogbo the state capital Tuesday afternoon, stayed with Brother Sunday (Pa Sholley/Sonnet) before he proceeded to Edo State.
I went to Kuliya Comprehensive College at Kobongbogboe Area to change my bag before I went my way. They dropped me off at Òkè Fia where I boarded a bike to Ẹdẹ. Another bike took me to the camp.
We were going through COVID-19 proceedings when a senior medical officer came out and told them that should be all for the day. We were directed to hostels and told to come back the next day.
We slept in Room 2 of Blc that night and to continue registration the second day.....
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JOURNEY INTO ORIENTATION BROADCASTING SERVICE
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A woman I later known to answer Mrs. Otemuyiwa Catherine announced that whoever knew something about photography, media, news writing, content (creation and editing), sounds and electronics, etc should come to a white-and-green painted building beside the parade ground during the morning meditation the second day I got to the camp. However I couldn't go immediately as eager as I was because I was yet to complete my registrations.
I was done by noon and rushed to the building. I met Mr. Ofure Ehizogie who is a corp member from the year 2020. He asked me of what I could do for OBS, I told him I do straight writing, content creation, editing, proofreading, publishing, freelancing and I am an author of one book as well as a trained journalist. He was visibly pleased. And as if to verify all of these adjectives he told me to write on a Nollywood actor (Yinka Quadr) who just came to drop his daughter off the camp. That was what birthed the report I headlined "NOLLYWOOD ACTOR VISITS NYSC ỌṢÙN CAMP, REINFORCES NATIONAL UNITY". I gave the news story two headlines, the above was chosen.
I believe it was no gainsaying for me to say I was the first OBS Writer of OS/21B though there were other few people who made it to OBS before me they joined other units.
Mr. Ofure Ehizogie made me 'recruit officer' for others who came. I was immediately made admin in the WhatsApp group (OBS 2021 BATCH B STREAM I) created by Mr. Agboola Ìyanu. He's the same set as Mr. Ofure. And I created Penpushers 🖋️OBS 2021B on the same day. (July 28, 2021).
Aside from the list everyone wrote their names, I was to get their numbers and names and added to the former group, and if wanted to join OBS Writers the latter too.
Now there was something about this. I more or less handpicked people who would be in OBS Writers Unit. Fields of studies, temperaments and willingness are the most important factors. My mood was the fourth. On several occasions I made it a business to 'refer' or 'advised' people to join other units.
OBS Units are six: Writers, Social Media, Sounds, Photography, Decorations and Presenters. First week of August, units' leaders were chosen: myself (writers), Debby (Social Media), Afolabi Godwin (Sounds), Babarinde Tosin (Photography), Chioma Nwozo (Decorations) and Ozuwo Beatrice Edward (Presenters). Finecountry Sotonye, man of Nigerian-British birth was made Provost.
(Mr. Finecountry's bunk was beside mine on the right, though he slept in the lower half. Mr. Shadrach Orimoloye, another man who was also in OBS slept in his other half. B.O Felix (Bamisaye Felix) who later become our hostel governor slept in my lower half. When he become governor, I added "Governor Senior Brother" to my nickname because i was sleeping above him. Mr. Oladele Oladipupo Olaoluwa (LL.B), a UI graduate student later occupied my upper left side, Umar from the North slept below him.)
If I were to be honest with you, I didn't plan to make OBS my home. But you see there were too many people who wanted to join in our first days and Mr Ofure always called me to add them to the group (I never knew why he chose me for the task since I was no creator of the group in the first place). These calls were so incessant that I took my cooler to OBS, and would go to the kitchen from there. And there were multitude of events to write on.
Having made the head of Writers, I drafted a schedule for everyone based on events of the day. The task was first given to Mr. God's will Inyama. However, he was so engaged in other ways that he struggled for three days to keep up with it, so I assigned it to Mr. Aniediabasi Etukudo when Miss Audu Aishat Abosede politely turned down the offer. The two guys, to their credit, sorted themselves out. I had no headaches on schedule after all.
For the record, the Writers list is reproduced below:
OBS WRITERS AND CONTACTS
1. Mr. Ofure Ehizogie
+2348097596568
2. Jimoh Taofik Adekunle
08144510532
3. Audu Aishat Abosede
+2348134247571
4. Adeleye Chika Favour
+2348154360843
5. Agbi Victory Omole
+2348164435376
6. Aniediabasi Etukudo II
+2348080306440
7. Ekeh Eberechukwu Lynus
+2348168913688
8. Emediegwu Joana Amara
+2348160591459
9. God'swill Inyama
+2347035609758
10. Ihrivbogbe Cecilia Oyindamola
+2348164494793
11. Kini Abasi Edet
+2348101094758
12. Marvelous Alagbe
+2348166223939
13. Obiakonwa Onyinyeechi Jane
+2347039132662
14. Onome Akponodor
+2348108017900
15. Phoebe Allison
+2348162122774
16. Success Itonya
+2348139341908
17. Ukoji Stephenie Onyinyechi
+2348185085151
18. Uyobono Enoch
+2347018848741
19. Uzoms Okechukwu
+2348065548214
20. Ibrahim Fetere
+2347063193962
21. Nkechukwu Favour
+2348067678760
Aniediabasi made to understand that 1...2..12...14...21..23 later left. And gave me another one as reproduced below:
. Adeleye Chika Favour
+2348154360843
4. Agbi Victory Omole
+2348164435376
5. Akpodonor Onome
+2348108017900
6. Alagbe Marvelous
+2348166223939
7. Allison Phoebe
+2348162122774
8. Aniediabasi Etukudo II
+2348080306440
9. Audu Aishat Abosede
+2348134247571
10. Ekeh Eberechukwu Lynus
+2348168913688
11. Emediegwu Joana Amara
+2348160591459
13. Ibraheem Hamed Olakunle
+2347063193962
15. Ikpa Chibuzor
+2348058196390
16. Inyama God'swill
+2347035609758
17. Itonya Success
+2348139341908
18. Kini-Abasi Edet
+2348101094758
19. Ndukwe Favour Chinwendu
+2348067678760
20. Obiakonwa Onyinyeechi Jane
+2347039132662
22. Oladele Oladipupo Olaoluwa
+2349086146300
24. Ukoji Stephenie Onyinyechi
+2348185085151
25. Uyobono Enoch
+2347018848741
I repeat: I don't know how much I was involved with OBS but there were some telling signs.
1. Most of my room mates didn't know me, and vice versa. They latter named me "The OBS Man".
2. I was always on duty because all writers, who rotate on schedule must submit every event's report to me.
3. I was always at OBS from the morning trumpet. I took my bath, washed clothes, go to kitchen etc from the OBS building. Sometimes I sent people to the kitchen on my behalf.
These were obviously without its disadvantages.
1. I didn't get to participate in almost none of platoon activities.
2. Same went for Social Activities - until Aleem Idaya Ọpẹyẹmi came.
3. Skipped some meals.
4. Didn't participated in Hostel cleanings, kitchen services, sports and related activities.
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TỌBA ADÉDÈJÌ CHALLENGE
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Tọba was a coursemate from OND days (2014-2016) and he served in the same OBS as head Writers 2019/2020. He came to camp twice to see me among other things.
While I was thanking him on WhatsApp on the first visit, he said that edited 69 stories as OBS Head Writers. I asked, "am I supposed to beat that?" He came around again the second day and told me details of his editing experiences at OBS. That they still brought him news to edit even when he landed in the camp clinic some 48 hours to leave the camp. I asked how? He said he participated in many other activities aside OBS, including Platoon's.
I unanimously made 70-stories my own challenge after I announced it via WhatsApp status. It was a great surprise that Mr. Chucks Okoji, Cypher Muhammad, Classic Olayinka, Ìtàn Ayòbámi Africa were on the fore among people who were following the tallies as I kept updating in the days that followed.
Sadly (for me though), I didn't get to beat his record as I was made OBS Coordinator.
I was able to arrange news that passed through me as followed:
JULY 28, 2021
1. VETERAN ACTOR VISITS NYSC ỌṢUN CAMP, REINFORCES NATIONAL UNITY
JULY 29, 2021
2. MRS OLOWO ENLIGHTENS PCMS ON IMPORTANCE OF SAED
3. REDEEMER UNIVERSITY DONATES PPMs TO NYSC OSUN CAMP
4. ALHAJI ADAMU CHARGES PCMs TO ADHERE TO CAMP RULES AND REGULATIONS
5. ADEMOLA WARNS AGAINST SELF MEDICATION FOR COVID-19 RELATED CASES
6. OSUN NYSC PAYS TRIBUTE TO FALLEN PCMS
7. SERVICOM IS DESIGNED TO CORRECT CERTAIN ABNORMALITIES - MR FAGBEMI
JULY 30, 2021
8. DSS SENSITIZES PCMs ON SECURITY MEASURES AND CONSCIOUSNESS.
9. ADEWARA CHARGES PCMS ON IMPORTANCE ON REGISTRATION
JULY 31, 2021
9. NYSC OSUN STATE COORDINATOR APPOINTS NEW CORPS CAMP DIRECTOR
10. GENERAL JOE ENLIGHTENS OSUN PCMS ON VARIOUS SECURITY TECHNIQUES
11. HAVE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF NYSC'S RULES AND REGULATIONS - FATOGUN
AUGUST 1ST, 2021
12. OSUN NYSC CELEBRATES WELCOME PARTY IN GRAND STYLE
13. ADEGOKE IMPLORES PCMS TO PLAY THEIR PART TOWARDS NATIONAL INTEGRATION EFFECTIVELY
AUGUST 2ND, 2021
14. OSUN NYSC HOLDS AWARENESSES RALLY AHEAD OF THE OPENING CEREMONY
15. OSUN NYSC EDUCATES CAMP MARKETERS ON FIRE SAFETY
16. FOIA GIVES PEOPLE A RIGHT TO INFORMATION, AIDS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, OTEMUYIWA TELLS PCMS
17. ADEGOKE CHARGES CORPS MEMBERS TO BE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A UNITED SOCIETY
18. NYSC OSUN STATE COORDINATOR INAUGURATES COVID-19 TASK FORCE
19. ALH. TAOFIK EDUCATES CORPS MEMBERS ON REGULATIONS GUIDING RELOCATION
20. NYSC OSUN KICK STARTS SPORTS ACTIVITIES
AUGUST 3RD, 2021
21. ENSURE YOU REPRESENT YOUR CULTURE RIGHTLY, CD INSTRUCTS CORPS MEMBERS
22. DRAMA IS AN ARTISTIC DISPLAY OF INFORMATION, THERE IS MESSAGE IN BETWEEN - OSUN CAMP DIRECTOR
23. SHUN HARD DRUGS AND NARCOTICS - DAUDA ADMONISHES CORPS MEMBERS
24. SAED ERADICATES POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT, ADEGOKE
25. YOU ARE THE IMAGE OF NYSC, OKUNDAYE TELLS CORPS MEMBERS
26. BE SURE OF YOUR HIV/AIDS STATUS - OMODARA
27. ENDEAVOUR TO IMBIBE THE ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ CULTURE, EBURU OF IBA ADMONISHES CORPS MEMBERS
AUGUST 4TH, 2021
28. SAED: DON'T NEGLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING, NDE TELLS OSUN CORPS MEMBERS
29. NIGERIA YOUTHS NEED TO BE VALUED-ORIENTED - IBIKUNLE
30. There Is A Reward For Faithful Service - Mrs Olawale Tells Corps Members
31. Fanmilk Vendor Donates Wall Clock To NYSC Osun
32. YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO END CORRUPTION- INGOBRO TELLS CORPS MEMBERS
AUGUST 5TH, 2021
33. BE GOOD AMBASSADORS OF THE SCHEME AND YOUR PARENTS- DG NYSC
34. ADEGOKE SENSITIZES CORPS MEMBERS ON NYSC ACTS AND BYE LAWS
35. NYSC KICKS OFF HANDS-ON TRAINING
AUGUST 6TH, 2021
36. CONDUCT YOURSELVES AND MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR CDS - AYIBIOWO
37. AVOID UNAUTHORIZED TRAVELS, ADAMU WARNS CORPS MEMBERS
38. ADELEKE CHARGES CORPS MEMBERS TO DEVELOP QUALITY VALUE SYSTEMS
AUGUST 7TH, 2021
39.MAN O WAR DRILL
40. Mindthegap.ng Programme
41. Fire accident are preventable, Ọṣùn State FIRE TELLS CORPS MEMBERS
42. OSUN NYSC DEBUNKS COVID-19 POSITIVE CLAIMS
43. SOCIAL NIGHT
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COORDINATORSHIP
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August 8th, 2021 we (OBS members) were called to the Pavilion for undisclosed purpose(s). I remember I sat between Audu Aisha Abosede and Ihrivbogbe Cecilia Oyindamola who are both in my unit and Ozuwo Beatrice Edward who headed presenters. We were chatting away as usual.
Again Ofure and Agboola did the talking. Units' heads were called out (Babarinde Tosin was absent) to give some feedback on their units. We did. And went back to our various seats.
I didn't even know what else was being said because I was deep in conversation with the girls. Suddenly I heard my name being called by more people, I raised my head to see I was being summoned at the front. When I got there I couldn't make a head or tail of what's being said, but I heard "Coordinator" said. And that was that.
Cecilia was also called and I gave her my (now former) tag as head Writers and I was given another one that read "Coordinator".
Expectedly, congratulations reeled in. Yes. I allowed it however soon grew weird and tired. Later embarrassed. So embarrassed that I turned my tag innerward for 72 hours. Israel Oghenesodjha (of Photography Unit) was the first runner up in this regard, he busied himself calling me "coordinator" whenever we saw.
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SIDE TRACKS
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I become friends with two friends on camp who are worthy of mention: Aleem Idaya Opeyemi and Majeedah Muritala Adufẹ. The former served in the camp clinic and the latter was SERVICOM member and my Platoon member.
Miss Aleem lost her white t-shirt in the Multipurpose Hall and came to OBS to see if anyone would be kind enough to bring it there. She kept coming that I felt for her and decided to buy her another one. That's how we become good friends afterwards. Till date.
Miss Muritala become a good friend after we all mocked ourselves for not getting the matching training alright. We all laughed at ourselves and I approached her to know more, hence become friends.
Furthermore, I met with some friends on camp too. They included and not limited to:
Furthermore, I met with some friends on camp too. They included and not limited to:
Toluwashe Paul (Uncle Bright), Ejalonibu Rofiat Adéshẹwa, Alágbè Adenike, Dan Pherson (we also lived in the same room/hostel), Adeniyi Damilola Ifeoluwa (Dimension), Ogunjobi Joshua (Young Josh), etc
I remember below activities too:
1. I suggested three plays to my Platoon, Platoon 9 and they rejected them. But Debbie, a member of OBS and Platoon 8 called me to her Platoon. I narrated them the history of Ọṣùn River of Osogbo and scripted a three acts story for them. They came first and were appreciative of my gesture. It's written in Social Committee Report as "Finally, the social activities came to an end on a high and colourful note with a showcase of cultural diversities during the carnival. Subsequently, Plantoon 8 come first with 49.7 points, Platoon 1 second with 47.7 points and Platoon 5 with 47.3".
2. The Eburu of Iba, Ọba (Dr) Adekunle Adeogun Okunoye Oyedeji ll came to the camp to give speech on 4th of August. I had the privilege of chatting his praises while Abosede Audu Aisha gave him a present.
3. On the 7the of August, I, alongside Beatrice represented our Platoon 9 in Speech Contest, organized by Mindthegapdotcom team in collaboration with Google.
I afterwards wrote in the news, "Each Platoon had two members each who gave a talk about the topic of discourse for a duration of five minutes.
"After intense sessions, the debate ended with Platoon 2 coming 1st with 273.25 points, Platoon 4 came 2nd and Platoon 6 came 3rd, the platoons were rewarded with a cash gift of 10,000 naira, 7,000 naira and 5,000 naira respectively.
"Other positions include, Platoon 1 came 4th, Platoon 3 came 5th, Platoon 10 came 6th, Platoon 9 came 7th, Platoon 7 came 8th, Platoon 5 came 9th and Platoon 8 came last."
4. I thanked the NYSC Management during State Debriefing State Debriefing on the 1st of August, 2021. It is reproduced below:
While giving vote of thanks on behalf of fellow PCMs, Mr. Jimoh Taofik Adekunle with the Code No. OS/ 21B/0319 thanked the Osun NYSC for all it put in place in giving them nothing short of best value.
"On behalf of fellow Prospective Corps Members, we express our appreciation wholeheartedly to Osun NYSC Management, starting from Governor Oyetola Gboyega the executive governor of Osun State, Mr. Adegoke Ayodele the State Coordinator, Mr. Adamu Abdullahi the Camp Director, Captain P.M Egbe the Camp Commandant, Mrs. Jummai Adebola the DG Representative on camp, heads of units and other officers.
"We are assuring you of our commitment to national unity and continued coexistence as we promise to serve Osun State in good faith and in uphold national integration.
"We assure you of our part in ensuring we have a united Nigeria.
"We thank all officials for all they do in giving us best amenities any PCM could have anywhere in the country.
"We therefore promise to be of best behavioural disposal throughout our one-year programme and abide by the rules and regulations.
"Thank you. God bless you all."
(c) Jimoh Taofik Adekunle (JAAT)
