Flashback On NYSC 1

THE CONFLUENCE STATE: MY EXPERIENCE
I had always wished to be posted far away from South West- Lagos State where I was born, grew up and had all my education from elementary to tertiary institute. I needed a change. Perhaps my dissatisfaction with life over there made me not to influence my posting during the NYSC service. I was desperate to change my environment. I was sick of the hustles and bustles in Lagos State. It was a daily ‘survival of the fittest affair’. The political crisis, armed robbery operations, ritual killings, assassination, bomb blasting(oops!!), pollution (air, water etc), poor transportation system etc to mention a few makes the condition of living in Lagos uninteresting. I knew I would soon leave it for good when at last I completed my B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos with all glory to God. It was a miracle.

We were able to finish our final undergraduate examination in April 2004, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I was not able to meet up with the September 2004 Batch B Orientation Course. Not until this year February 2006, God’s time as they say is always the best. I pledge my allegiance to the all knowing God.

When I received my call-up letter, I saw “Kogi” on it. I knew it was God’s plan and desire for me. The first thing I did was to get a Nigerian Map and to locate Kogi State, thereafter, I went a-browsing and search for the word “Kogi State” from the Google online search engine. The details I got was quite fascinating, as I discovered that Kogi happens to be the only centrally located state in Nigeria, a confluence state and a fast developing state sharing its boundary with the Eastern, Western, Southern and Northern part of the nation.

I carried my bag and baggage and set off for a destination, I had never been to before but only heard about. It was a journey of seven (7) hours, since we left Lagos at some minutes past 7:00am. This was the very first time ever that I would sojourn to another State apart from Lagos. I headed for the land better known as the confluence state. I came with the intension of seeing the worst but I confess that I’d been disappointed. The Kogi State I met is very different from the picture I had in mind. Kogi is a peaceful state despite diverse group.