MY TEAM AND I (My last sensitization experience as a CDS Leader)

I just rounded up my NYSC fews months ago, but there are specific event I can redo over and over again if I have the opportunity. These events are for me memorable, so memorable that I may never forget. Participating in today's TBT, I will be shearing the last sensitisation program I organised as a CDS president.

Before I continue with the tales of my experience, let me first clarify some concepts. The NYSC (National Youth Service Corp) program is a one year Nigerian national youth service scheme that gives young graduates the opportunity to explore new possibilities. If one is to participate in the scheme, he or she would be sent to an entirely new part of the country. A part that is far away from home, there he or she would be expected to serve his home land. As part of the program, corp members are categorised into different community development program. The community development programs (CDS) are partially independent groups of corp members. They are expected to as part of their service to the nation carry out different sensitisation programs. These CDSs are at liberty to appoint their own executive, with that being the case, I was privileged to be the president of Charity Gender and Vanguard CDS Abinsi, Benue State Nigeria.

Nigeria was getting more unsafe for travellers as their were so many killings and kidnapping from unknown gunmen, headsman and bandits. Abinsi on the other hand is a very little community, but yet there are those traveling to different major cities of the federation from this little community. Abinsi was our community of service, and all of us were strangers in the land. It was my last sensitisation program as a CDS president, that implies that I have had several other ones. Abinsi people are wonderful and accommodating, and they gave us their attention and even resources [when necessary] at every of our sensitisation program. I was certain this will not be different.

This time our target was the road users. Our aim was to remind them about how dangerous Nigerian roads could be as well as the need to be security conscious; but most importantly, we were to sensitize them on the need to avoid night travels. In the little motor pack located exactly in front of Abinsi market two or three cars are loaded every morning and evening with goods and passengers before taking off to Lafia, Abuja and other major cities. On that faithful morning I and my corp members approached the vehicle loading as at that time, without being disappointed, we were given attention by the passengers and the driver who pulsed his activity to listen to us. Having been given opportunity, we took our time to pass the message with which we came to them and that was it for the day. To rap up the whole activity, we took some pictures for documentation purposes, and I will be shearing some of those pictures with you guys.

My experiences in Abinsi community (Benue State Nigeria) are life changing experiences. This is one out of so many amazing sensations program I organised as a CDS president, and it is for me the most amazing. Since it was my last, it made me realize how much I was going to miss my corp members. Given the multicultural nature of Nigeria, we were made up of multiple tribe as a CDS, but yet we loved our self. We were a team, and I will forever miss being the theme leader.