The Mighty Walk of my Jungle Boots; My NYSC Story by Kolawole Ebenezer

DEDICATION:

The Mighty Walk of my Jungle Boots; My NYSC Story is dedicated firstly to all Humanitarians who act in good faith trying to alleviate the suffering of people in dire need and secondly to those that have inspired me to put this work together .

PREFACE

This story was born out of the desire to help everyone work for themselves their own improvement and with a full consciousness that we all share a general responsibility for all humanity. The writer set himself the task of capturing in writings (as requested) of the strides made in the course of his Service year for the benefit of all serving Corps Members and everyone who comes across this book that they can consciously utilize their  time and take most use of it that people ordinarily take for granted. He remembers lots of things that often He recalls and the million miles road “his jungle boots” had walked. Documenting all of these could take entire lengths of time. However the story has been streamlined and filtered with a view to help promote National unity, Capacity Building, Self Reliance and particularly Sustainable Developments Goals in the Nation.

Edited by 

Emmanuel Kolawole

Seun Oyetoyan
Kolawole Bolatito

© Feb 2019

The Mighty walk of my Jungle Boots; My NYSC Story

NYSC as perceived by many is an opportunity to explore a different environment entirely, which is in line with its aim of National Integration. Just as the prayer of most students particularly the undergraduates is to finish well and be deployed for the one year National Youth Service, my desire was not an exception. It isn't just about the pleasure of exploring other cultures and states across the federation but it is also because it symbolizes a sign of victory after years of staying and coping with the challenges in the academic environment. 

For some veiled reasons I chose some far distant states, among them was Delta State where I was eventually deployed to observe my one year compulsory National Service. Camping experience at Isele-Uku, Delta State wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, and I couldn't have been more thankful when the 3-week compulsory camping ended. It was during the late November weather i got to camp and as such became a victim  of the very  cold, dry and dusty weather, worse of all, schedules were not flexible in anyway.

I found the camp of the Nigerian Red Cross Society to leverage on at last, back in my Undergraduate days I was a volunteer, so as a certified First Aider, I identified with the team and I began to assist other camp officials and the paramedics in responding to medical emergencies among other fellow compatriots who were in distress. As one of the peck of being a volunteer, I was able to exempt myself from the generic regimented lifestyle and so had my partial freedom.

NYSC 17B Red Cross Team

The preparation for the opening ceremony left no stone unturned. I channeled my way up to represent the North Central Zone, I got there somehow, after so much plans and training to receive the dignitaries, likes of the NYSC Director General, Delta State Governor, the Chief Justice among others, the State Coordinator came in with an unscheduled interview and began to ask me some random questions which I couldn't answer satisfactorily. He became skeptical of my ability and ordered that I stepped down. For a while, I couldn’t sustain a clear line of thought that blankness spelt my exact state of mind. My spirit was aggravated and provoked. It was then I resolved into some decisions that led to a second and cordial meeting we had which I’ll further emphasize on before the end of this story. This episode made me more aware of the fact that at times it takes a deep heart to feel a deep need.

I continued my humanitarian Services anyways. I helped in alleviating the injured and others with several medical conditions. I equally handled several classes of First Aid Training to Corps Members.  A fellow corps member ran into me one afternoon with smiles on her face saying she hope she could  give due appreciation, she explained how I gave her hands and treated her, in her final words, she said Thank you Doctor. What a feel of fulfillment I had. 

Camp was not actually boring, I made new friends and reconnected with old friends from my Alma Mata and we kept one another’s company. Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) made camp more interesting. There was no other better place to go to than NCCF each evening, it was such a good environment to grow and to find solace. A part I have really missed so much, I still remember how we used to sing our family song particularly the kpo Kpo ti Kpo Kpo ti Familiy song holding hands and flinging legs, like; 

I love this Family of God

So closely knitted into one

They have taken me into their heart  and

I’m so glad to be a part of this great family

Hand in Hand together we’ll go

Don’t you know you mean so much to me

I need you to build this family

You need me to build this family...

We are heirs of the Father

We are Joint heirs with the Son,

We are Children of the Kingdom,

We are family, we are one

These songs do not just give sense of true koinonia, they speak more about brotherly love and togetherness. NCCF will never die.

Soon we began to count down to the end of camping and while it was a day everyone  had anticipated, from the onset, it became more difficult to accept as it drew near. Bittersweet memories struck as we bided farewell to one another with vague promises and hopes in our hearts that our path would someday cross again. We were finally decamped and posted to different places. A chilled air welled up at us as we left the camp premises.

I was warmly welcomed to Afiesere Community by some of the community members as well as the Principal and Staffs of the Afiesere Secondary School where I was posted as my place of Primary assignment. The cultures and traditions of Urhobo people is an interesting one. It cut across their mode of dressing, their food and feeding pattern,  Language, social interaction among other things and the memories I have of these people and such rich cultures are indelibly written in my heart. There are couple of other stereotypes about them which I hope to debuck in other editions of my memoirs.

I toured the entire 25 Local Government Areas in Delta State including the riverine areas of course, on the account of one programme or the other within the service year which was such a feat considering that Kwara State where I hail from has just 16 LGAs and I have barely covered up to half of that expanse. I have had causes to travel round the state for Medical Outreaches, Academic programmes,  NYSC activities, NCCF Rural Rugged outreaches, social grounds as well as a sad activity of a fellow Corps member's burial.

In a bid to make some extra cash to get by, I rendered home lesson service for two students in JSS2 and SS2 classes. I taught them Mathematics.  I wondered where the courage came from when I was approached for the offer since I didn’t have any major background in Mathematics. The parents of the kids saw a remarkable and appreciable result which ultimately left Joy in the life of a home lesson teacher like me. I was recommended and I became a sought after teacher every parent and school wanted to hire. Every hour was practically booked that I had to reschedule free time for my self

I saw my stay and status as an opportunity to add value to my host community, I believe in doing a lot where others would have ordinarily passed without making any strides and then decided to list out some identified needs of the community with the mind to meet those needs personally. I filed a proposal to the NYSC Delta state Coordinator for approval of some projects borne out of my strong desire to develop, empower and address some pressing issues in my host community. 

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS

a. Training of Students and Staffs of some selected schools on First Aid

b. Donation of Well- Equipped First Aid Boxes

Health Sensitizations and Deworming of Children in Afiesere Community

Sex Education and distribution of Sanitary Pads to girl-child in Afiesere Community.

Free Medical Screening of Diabetes and Blood Pressure as well as Free Treatment for all that are screened positive. 

Construction of Volleyball Court in Afiesere Secondary School.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Training of Students and Staffs of some selected schools on First Aid. A total of two schools were finally selected; Orem Faith Group of School and Afiesere Secondary School. These two schools were intensively trained on First Aid, and upon the completion of the 4-week training of students and Staff, The Administration of these newly established school units were handed over to the Nigerian Red Cross Delta State Branch for a follow-up and a Sustainable Training. Thereafter, A well-equipped First Aid Boxes were donated to these schools

 A grand  programme, tagged "Health Awareness on Worm Infestation and Sex Education on Menstrual Hygiene" was set up to sensitize and deworm children and Adults, distribution of sanitary Pads in the community, Diabetes Screening as well as blood pressure screening were carried out. Flyers and handbills were produced to create awareness for the programme.

Kolawole Ebenezer, Speaker

Medical Team

Guest Speaker, Dr Onome

Sensitization on Menstrual Hygiene

Deworming exercise

A total of 256 children and 65 Adults were dewormed and a total of 99 young girls received Dry Love Sanitary Pads. A total of 120 men and women were screened on Blood Sugar Level and Blood Pressure, 32 were found positive (Diabetic) and 55 had high blood pressure. All that were found positive were placed on free treatment.

Consultation with Dr Fred

Distribution of Dry love Sanitary Pad

There was no way I could drive along the road back without referencing the efforts and remarkable contribution of the Director and Staffs of Fredicare Health Care Services which made the programme a seamless and an achievable one. The Director, Dr Fred Itobore was one of those God specially sent to ensure a swift and successful service year. He gave me opportunity to work in his facility just before service year came to an end. He is someone who enriches the lives of everyone that ever knew him, among them was me.

Finally a volleyball court was professionally constructed in Afiesere Secondary School, making Afiesere the First community to have a Volleyball court in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State.

Commissioning of Volleyball Court Project

Not neglecting one of the four cardinal goal of NYSC, I was in the Mass Literacy Community Development Service group (CDS) where we took stance to promote literacy in the community. I was elected as the president of the CDS group and on assumption of duty, I set a template and set the ball on motion. Grooming a good team, the face of the CDS became centre of attraction not just by the community members whom we were meant to serve, but also other CDS groups in the Local Government. The administration was well commended by all Including the Local Government Inspector.

The Afiesere  Mass Literacy group project, upon approval by the NYSC Local Government Inspector and other relevant authorities equally decided to embark on the Construction of a sign board for Afiesere Secondary School. The desire emanated from the need to provide the school with a clearer sign board which will improve awareness as well as dignity of the school.

Commissioning of Bill Board Project

Quiz competition, debate and Sensitization on topical issues relating to child’s Education and wellbeing were periodically embarked on in different schools across the community which evidently improved their academic and human capacity. I facilitated a constant First Aid and Safety Education  training not just in the community also among fellow corps members

Challenges
Sourcing for funds to finance both personal project and the group CDS wasn't easy. Financing the project was a major challenge encountered in the course of the project, the ones who believed in the project wanted to see a working structure first before they give support, thereby pushing me at an edge. Moreover a lot of people promised and could not pull through eventually. I recorded several cases of first hand disappointments; I have had to trod in the early morning dew since the best time I could see the President General was in the early morning. I have had to walk miles to meet the absence of a politician who had earlier fixed an appointment. I and my team have had several appointments and waited long hours to meet with the King of Ughelli Kingdom only to watch the King moved out with his convoy bringing our long wait to fruition. Also I had fair share of people who  outrightly discouraged my plans but in all of these things, persistence and determination show forth results. I believed that if I tried long and hard enough, that someday I would make it and there was nothing that pleased me any better than when I saw all my missions and plans accomplished.

The project were fully sponsored and supported by great philanthropist and Humanitarians in Afiesere community, ughelli North all to whom I respectfully give my sincere and due appreciations to, worthy of mentioning are;

Dr. Fred Itobore – Fredicare Health Care Services

Dr. Onome Mukoro --- Fredicare Health Care Services
Dr. Dan & Nurse Dan

Comr. Victor Otumemine – President General of Afiesere Community

Sir Chris Ahweyevu, Principal of Afiesere Secondary School

Mr & Mrs  Festus Ekpe  of Transcorp Staff School, Ughelli.

Mr & Mrs Ejovi of Transcorp Staff School, Ughelli

Mr and Mrs Patricia Agene --- Afiesere Secondary School

Revd. Fr. Joseph Fregene, Priest in charge, Holy Spirit Parish, Afiesere.

I also acknowledge in a special way the immeasurable and invaluable support I got from my fellow Ex corps members and Friends; Aja Wilfred, Emmanuel Fidelis, Amusa Sonnibare, Begold Stella, Wozi Jenneth, Amadi Vivian, entire ever supportive CDS members, and Amadi Pat, Dr & Mrs Dan, Dr Kolawole, Damilola Olomofe, Nurse Sonia, Nurse Ruth, Nurse Onome, Betty respectively, These ones stood by, with them hopes and motivations were always renewed. They have all largely influenced my stay in Delta State.

Service year came to an end and a low-key "Passing out Ceremony" was designed at local government level. I however received a notification from the office of the state coordinator, inviting me for the ceremony in the state capital, Asaba where the State Coordinator conferred an award on behalf of the state NYSC governing board to me together with cash incentive which marked our second meeting I talked about earlier. I also got recommendation and commendation letters from President General, Afiesere Community, Afiesere Secondary School and Fredicare Health Care Services.

NYSC Delta State Coordinator Presenting the letter of Notification of Award and NYSC Certificate

To me, it is not about the incentive or the award while it may serve as an encouragement, it is important that we continue to make ourselves relevant being conscious that we share a general responsibility for all humanity. We must work to sustain the National Unity, Integration and Development. To me, Humanity is all about building bonds among societies with sustainable values. Everyone should be able to passionately and willfully volunteer to meet the needs of the society particularly the under-served areas. This is a duty we owe one another. The summary of it all is the oneness of all which would be a resultant of service to Humanity

Now there was a jumble of emotions the day I left Afiesere Community behind, with  leather box strapped in my hands and renewed hope in my heart I went after a dream I have to find. In Afiesere, Ughelli North Delta State, waits a family, a community I long to see again.
With Love as Always. KOLAWOLE, Ebenezer T.

THE END