"I looked beyond what NYSC has to offer, I did this- Toluwalase the 'bugler' shares his NYSC story

Editorial:  Good evening. Can we meet you pls?

I'm Adeleye Toluwalase Samuel
Editorial: Where is your PPA and u served in which cds group?

Toluwalase: My ppa is 2 Division Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan and I served in band CDS group


Editorial: great
Editorial: Congratulations on your POP (Passing out Parade)
You lived a life of impact during your service year. you donated a bugle to NYSC
Can you tell me the motive behind this??
most corpers don't believe in giving to NYSC actually. they just want to collect 33k and leave ,even buying periscope of #200 sef is problem..so what motivated u?
Toluwalase: I'm very grateful ma.

Toluwalase: My arrival day at the NYSC orientation camp, Oyo state during the searching of properties and registration for PCM's at the entrance of the orientation camp, I was told by the police officers and NYSC staffs at the gate to go get exit permit to leave camp due to an injury on my leg, I had nail puncture injury on my leg which happened few days to the commencement of the camp. I was on bathroom slippers for about two weeks after the commencement of the orientation camp.


From the day of commencement of the camp, as a lover of parade and quarter guard, I made sure I summoned courage to locate the soldier who was sent from the barracks to work in camp as the bugler. I was not able to meet him for the first three days in camp due to the stress of camp registration and having to focus on camp activities. I was later able to meet him the fourth day at a location close to the military personnel's lodge during break.


When I met him I told him I'll love to learn how to play the bugle and he told me no problem he'd teach me then we started the training immediately. My first two days learning the bugle, I was not able to blow out nice sounds this is because I have never played the bugle before not until I got to the camp but I had little idea on trumpet. It got to a point the bugler told me my guy i don't think you'll be able to play this bugle then i replied him and said i believe i can do this he then said no problem then. 


Some days later I was able to blow the bugle clearly and loudly then I became a helping hand to the bugler. I learnt the revelly and the sunset from him, so some days later in camp, the bugler told me in the afternoon that I would be the one to blow the morning revelly the following day, i was a bit afraid and reluctant, this is because if someone makes mistake while blowing the revelly the mockery would be much from corps members so I later accepted to blow it and when I blew it, it went well and people applauded me for that and my trainer was also impressed with my performance. 


Since I already knew the revelly perfectly, I continued playing it every morning. So one of the days I blew the revelly as I was about ending the revelly, I heard the state coordinator's voice asking who played the bugle and the staffs answered him and said it's a corp member, he was impressed with the sound of the bugle for that morning. He called me and I answered then he asked me again if I'm a soldier, I said no he also asked if I'm a barracks boy, I told him no I've never stayed in the barracks before then he said wow that's good of you, keep it up.
So a day before our departure in orientation camp, people who did well in camp were commended and to my amazement, my name was also called to receive commendation award as the camp bugler.


After the end of the orientation camp, we were posted to our various places of primary assignment, then about two weeks later, I got a call from NYSC Band Schedule Officer that the state coordinator has requested for my presence in camp to come and assist the bugler for 2023 batch B stream 2, I felt so privileged and honored to be invited again to work in camp as the bugler. That was not the end, I was invited again for the second time during 2023 batch C stream 1 Orientation Course. I felt so honored and my family members were also happy when I told them.


Since then I have been thinking of a way of giving back to the management of NYSC Oyo State under the leadership of my amiable state coordinator, Mr Odoba Abel Oche to serve as appreciation for the rare privilege that was given to me by them, then i came up with getting a bugle for the use of the quarter guard bugler in NYSC.

 

 

Editorial:  Wow! thats commendable I must say! what will you miss the about your service year?
Toluwalase: One of the moments I will miss is seeing other corps members in their uniforms attending programs organized either by the NYSC such as Community Development Service (CDS) or programs organized by external bodies, it is always fun to see each other fully kitted even if we are from different tribes and culture, the mere mention of " Corper Wee" elicit a joyous response from such Corper, this is a moment I will always live to remember.
  
Also, during my service year, I was able to attend the commissioning of a link road between Oyo and Iseyin and also the commissioning of LAUTECH Iseyin Campus with members of NYSC Band CDS by the Executive governor of Oyo State which also had the formal president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria General Olusegun Obasanjo in attendance. We were sitted close to where kings and other important dignitaries were sitted and the governor's podium.

Also, I will also miss the moment were I was given a special recognition and commendation by the management of NYSC Oyo State during 2023 Batch B Stream 1 Orientation Course as the Camp bugler. That title "bugler" gained me popularity among fellow corpers in 2 Division Nigerian Army Odogbo Barracks to the extent that most people did not know my real name. The privilege to serve under the Military Police department at my place of primary assignment would also be missed.
Editorial: can you share a memorable experience that has impacted you during your service year
Toluwalase: I have had lot of memorable experiences during my service year both in my Place of primary assignment and moments at NYSC programs. Having to attend evening games by corps members and military personnels every tuesdays and thursdays in order to keep fit is a memorable experience i can't forget. The days of mingling and learning at CDS are memorable experiences that I will want to recreate if I had the chance to do so.

The best of the memorable experiences during service year was when I played the bugle in orientation camp and I was specially recognized and commended. With that i received a call from band CDS schedule officer again after orientation camp exercise that I would come for Batch B stream 2 orientation exercise also and work as corps camp bugler. I was overwhelmed with joy when I received the call.
Editorial: What exactly do you love most and hate most about your service year
Toluwalase: There are many things I loved during my service year, among all is interaction with corps members from different regions within the country which is one of the vision for creation of the NYSC scheme which is to foster peace, harmony among graduates from different of the country.

What I hate most in NYSC is the stress one do go through during monthly biometric clearance. You will get to the local government secretariat very early in the morning, spend time looking for file, then have to wait for hours on que before you will be called for biometric clearance, at the end of all you will end up leaving the local government secretariat very stressed and tired.
Editorial: what advice would you give to corpers to make the most out of their service year?*
Toluwalase: The advice I will give to corps members is that whatever they do or wherever they find themselves during the service year, they should make sure they have the mind of love and respect for humanity and this should reflect in their behaviors and activities during their service year.
Editorial: if you could change one thing about the NYSC program, what will that be and why?
Toluwalase: If I had a magic wand or I was powerful enough, I will ensure that the meagre amount (33,000) given to corps members should be increased to at least seventy to eighty thousand naira which can help them meet their basic need because of the outrageous rate of inflation ravaging our nations economy making the 33,000 seem like a paltry sum.

The cost of living in the country is currently high, the thirty three thousand naira monthly allowance isn't enough for sustainance of corps members anymore.

I am certain that if over 80% of corps members are asked this question, this will also be their response.
Editorial: what was your major challenge in service year?
Toluwalase: My major challenge during my service year was having to balance work at my place of primary assignment with my expressing my talent which is music so as not to have issue that might lead to me getting query from my employers. 

 I had to restrict myself to skillfully playing the keyboard at shows on weekends alone so as to be punctual and work with due diligence at my place of work.
Editorial:Thank you for your time! I personally learnt a lot!! Have a great life!

 

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