OBEYING THE CLARION CALL

TO SERVE OUR FATHER LAND

ANTICIPATION
I finished my tertiary education sometime last year. I had been waiting a patiently to get notified about the beginning of the NYSC application. It wasn't forthcoming. I spent close to six months in the school environment at the lodge I rented. I didn't want to go home and be idle. I started doing some online jobs like writing articles on Fiverr and other little stuffs to gain some little money as my parents had put a stop to the monthly allowances

Head burn really has a meaning when you are faced with the situation

I stayed in Benin for six months which were generally unfruitful. I had to go home in December to celebrate the Christmas with family because it's my opinion that such festivities are better enjoyed with family.

There's no place like home. East or west, home is the best..

That statement holds true for me and has been recently strengthened given my plight in Fagbo, the mystery land. Lol. I like the word mystery.

To cut that part of the story short, in July 2017,I got the notification that at long last, after the tiring and unproductive wait, we were going to be going to orientation camp by 26th of July 2017.I was overjoyed. Not necessarily because NYSC is exactly my definition of the promised land but because it spelt freedom for me. And of course, free money. If only I knew better.

I had applied late for the NYSC exercise and only had some small number of states to chose from. Most were northern States and you won't even catch me in my dreams saying I want to serve in the north. What with the news of killings and the likes we were hearing on the news everyday.

LUCKY APPLICATION
I had three choices (though the normal is four, but, one was blank having no choice left). I selected from the first, Plateau state. The one I considered best among the northern States. Next I chose Ondo (the nearest in the West to me) and lastly Delta (where I was born and raised).

It was by grace that I still had the last two to choose from. Many who applied at the time I did mine were not so lucky.

I got Ondo state when the posting was out.
I got to camp on 26th of July and went through what I think was the longest three weeks of my life. I endured all the tiring talks, baseless seminars but the most annoying was how slowly the time kept crawling... Three weeks felt like three months. I had to learn the virtue of patience by force.

Fast forward to the last day of the three weeks orientation exercise. I was kitted in my khaki, a member of the passing out parade (P. O. P). I was sweating under the sun with the mistaken notion that those who are members of the POP would be posted to good PPAs (Place of Primary Assignments). Had I known.

I marched out of the parade ground to go and queue up to get my posting letter. I was among the first to get the letter. I saw firstly 'Ondo East' and was like 'God has done it!' only to see Fagbo Community....

I was confused. I started asking the guys from the different fellowships going around to look for their own people.
"Bros, abeg where be Fagbo? " I asked one in our local parlance.
"I never heard of it before!"
It was then I knew my cock had laid cooked eggs.
I just looked for one place to sit down first. Heat from no where started fanning me. In no time, I was sweating.

One concerned brother saw me and asked where I was posted to. I told him Fagbo. He said 'Ehya!'.
Here in Nigeria, when somebody says that to you, it's like saying 'take heart!', a way of sympathizing with you. "Alas! Na last I carry! (I came out last position)" I told myself.

ARRIVAL AT FAGBO COMMUNITY, ONDO STATE

Fast forward to three weeks later, I have landed in Fagbo. The most local place I've seen in my life.

The journey here wasn't easy as most of the roads weren't motorable. It was watching a war film seeing the way the driver kept swinging the steering from side to side. The car even broke down close to the school (yes, I was posted to a village school).

The picture above is the signpost of the school. It was founded in 1980 in Fagbo, a community that hasn't seen power supply for seven years. We pay to charge our devices and buy drinking water.

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This is what I get for choosing to obey the clarion call

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Well, we say in local parlance 'atall atall nai bad pass' (meaning to be lacking is the worst state).

See the classrooms where students study

Buildings are dilapidated

Seeing this, a passion was stirred in my heart to offer my best as the students have a heart to learn but lack the means.

The teachers are not adequate and the ones here are not properly motivated.

I live by the slogan

All is well that ends well

I hope to better the lives of these people in one way or another. The likes of the way @surpassinggoogle and @papa-pepper are bettering people's lives with thier existence. The way @gbenga, @eurogee, @misterakpan are helping people find footing on the ever busy web of social interactions..

I'm still thinking of one project to undergo here. Maybe buying them textbooks (that's one thing these students really lack). I hope to come up with something really soon.

Here's a good poem I will never forget.

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Do not live to make a living Rather live to make a life For the measure of succeeding is your service in the strife All you ever leave behind you when your soul has crossed the bay Is the good you've done to others as you tarried along with way

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I believe in the power of good works.
Until some other time...
It's your friendly guy.

@penauthor