The “Kopa” Experience: Inside the 21-Day NYSC Camp
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
The loud trumpet blows at 4:30 am, a sharp noise that wakes everyone up in the dark. It is a sound that thousands of Nigerian graduates will remember for the rest of their lives. To the world, they are young people serving their country; but to the soldiers on the field, they are simply new recruits. This begins the 21-day journey of turning students into disciplined members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The first few days are a busy rush of big white shorts, wrong-sized sneakers, and plastic folders. The change happens fast, as thousands of people stop wearing their fancy clothes.
They all start wearing white looking exactly the same so the government can teach them about hard work and unity. It is a big change, where the nice things from university life are traded for a plastic meal plate and a tag with a number on it.
Under the baking Nigerian sun, the prospective corps members start to change. Sweat soaks their white shirts as they learn how to stand still for many hours. The heat is like a teacher that does not take excuses, forcing everyone to focus on just getting through the day.
In this shared tiredness, it doesn’t matter where you come from or what language you speak. People start to help each other because they are all facing the same hard work on the dusty field.
The camp has two different sides, and you can see this best at the “Mami Market.” This is the busy heart of the camp, where the smell of fried fish and loud music give people a break from the soldiers.
Here, tailors fix big trousers to fit better, and cold drinks feel like a special treat. It is the main place to relax, where people make real friends while eating plates of spicy noodles.
In the hostels, people learn a different kind of lesson. Many strangers sleep on narrow bunk beds, sharing stories, snacks, and complaining about the hard morning exercises. Because there is no private space, people become close friends very fast. A graduate from a school abroad might share a bucket of water with someone from a local school. While climbing ropes or crawling through mud, they are not strangers; they are a team trying to finish together.
The daily routine is full of habits that make everyone feel like they belong. Each morning starts with “Morning Meditations,” where they sing the national anthem together as the sun comes up. These meetings remind everyone why they are wearing the uniform. Even though they are tired, the students feel proud when they march together. The sound of their boots hitting the ground at the same time shows they are now one group.
The competitions between different groups, called “platoons,” keep the camp spirit alive. Whether it is a football match, a dance competition, or a beauty pageant, everyone wants to win. These contests make people proud of their platoon. In these fun moments, they forget how tired they felt during the afternoon drills. They only care about cheering for their new friends and winning for their team.
Even the food becomes something everyone talks about. The long lines for “state food” are where the best camp stories are told. Whether the rice tastes good or bad, it is something everyone shares. These meals are not just about eating; they are about the experience of waiting together, joking with the cooks, and being happy when they get an extra piece of meat.
By the 21st day, the morning trumpet sounds different. It doesn’t feel like a bad noise anymore; it feels like a sign that they have finished a hard task. The final parade is a great sight. The trainees, who used to be clumsy, now march perfectly together. Their clothes are neat and their boots are shining. You can see they have changed they stand taller and look more confident than they did three weeks ago.
When the gates finally open, the newly sworn-in corps members go to different places across the country to start their work. They leave behind the dust, the cold water, and the tiredness, but they take something special with them. The strangers they met are now best friends, and the tough soldiers are now people they respect. They leave not just as graduates, but as “Corpers” with a strong spirit that can handle anything.
