Eniola Yekini
Nollywood actress Omowunmi Dada has recalled how she felt worried after she was posted to Jigawa State for her National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in 2011.
Speaking in a video posted on Chude Podcast on Saturday, October 10, 2026, Dada said she had hoped to serve in eastern Nigeria because she was concerned about her safety.
She said the news was difficult to accept at first because she associated Jigawa with the Boko Haram insurgency, which made her anxious about travelling to an unfamiliar place.
“As her father’s only daughter, she understood why her safety was a major concern,” she said, noting that she did not want to put herself at risk.
Recalling her reaction at the time, she said she kept hoping for a posting to the East where she believed she would feel safer, but eventually had to accept the posting to Jigawa and complete her service year.
“But you know after I still had to, I’m the only girl my father has. You cannot be taking risks,” she said.
Dada said her initial fears were shaped by reports of insecurity, but noted that Jigawa was relatively safe during her service year.
Her account reflects the mixed feelings many graduates experience when posted to states far from home, where excitement about new experiences is often accompanied by concerns about security, accommodation and distance from family.
The NYSC scheme is designed to promote national unity by posting graduates to states outside their region of origin, exposing them to different cultures and communities.