NYSC (CURSE OR BLESSING)

NYSC (CURSE OR BLESSING)

Service to others is a very great task
But, a very rewarding thing to do
Service to one’s country is a more difficult task
Yet so honourable to carry out
Service to a country like Nigeria is the most difficult
You would agree with me
Yet, it’s got its own reward
In most cases
We get to pack few of our belongings
Travel long hours in uncomfortable vehicles
To a destination
Which in most cases we have never been to
Meet people we’ve never met
Cultures we have never practised
Traditions we only read in the books
And, in most cases
Live with people we do not even understand
There way of life
Or the language they speak
Yet, for the honour
For the rewards
We still serve our fatherland
Not minding the distance
Nor the differences in the environment we’re leaving
And the new one we’re embracing
Acclimatizing to the new weather
Is often a great task
Eating the food we’ve never tasted
Drinking from streams where they wash
All because we were posted to a village
Where there is no civilisation
Not even a pole of electricity
Leaving our lovely LG media air conditioner
For a pigeon-hole village window
Laying ma head on the uncomfortable wrap made from my clothes
All in the name of “service to our country”
Despite all this
We were still slain for a war we knew nothing about
Serving our fatherland!

Prince Popoola Olamilekan

For the love of our fatherland