A wise person knows that there is

something to be learned from

everyone. All things are full of signs
and it is a wise person who can learn
about one thing from another.
I recommend The Camp of the Wise for everyone who desires to
survive, be successful and impact their society. Written in the
tradition of D.O. Fagunwas didactic work and the Yoruba oral
literature, this novel is necessary equipment for building lives.
It is of immense benefit to students of secondary and tertiary
institutions and provides an alternative to the indiscriminate use
of and dependence on the Smartphone and internet by the
twenty-first century youth.
Folasade Hunsu, PhD
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a
retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.
J.O Adesiyan 2017.
ISBN: 978-978-54649-7-9
First published, 2017.
Published and printed by:
Revolution multi-Business,
Ventures
Ikere-Ekiti,
Ekiti State.
Computer typesetting and cover design by:
SK NICE Computer Service & Educational Consult,
College of Education/ Abete street,
Ikere-Ekiti,
Ekiti state.
Kindly download the book on the authors websites:https//:www.skniceconsult.com
.Better still, to order for the book call: 08065023352, 07036505740, 07034512376.
E-mail: Adesiyanolasunkanmi2014@gmail.com
 DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my mother, Mrs. Bolatito Adesiyan and to the
younger generation of our dear country, Nigeria.
 FOREWORD

The Camp of the Wise chronicles the experience of a young man during the
orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps. Though it does not mention
specifically the date of the camp, it is a contemporary story which most graduates
of Nigerian universities can relate to. The book is a doubly quasi-autobiographical
narrative because two sets of stories run in it: one done by the young boy and the
second is the story told by his friends uncle. Obviously the kernel of the text,
Uncles story covers the twenty-one days of orientation and details every activity
of the Camp. The para-military training, exposure to entrepreneurial opportunities,
debates, competitions and other forms of entertainment are some of the foci of the
book.

However, a more important aspect of the text is the dense moral and
academic lessons woven with the story of Uncle. In a society riddled with
different forms of vices, socio-economic and political challenges, the two-man
audience of Uncle is given a manual for survival through the various experiences
he narrated. Acting as a life-coach, Uncle gives them lengthy pieces of advice on
how to remain focused in life, the benefits of keeping to time, the relevance of
moral/religious training to success, the need to develop good character traits,
helping others, shunning ethnic discriminations and it provides other salient tools
needful for a well-rounded upbringing.

I recommend The Camp of the Wise for everyone who desires to survive, be
successful and impact their society. Written in the tradition of D.O. Fagunwas
didactic work and the Yoruba oral literature, this novel is necessary equipment for
building lives. It is of immense benefit to students of secondary and tertiary
institutions and provides an alternative to the indiscriminate use of and dependence
on the Smartphone and internet by the twenty-first century youth.
 The Camp for the Wise should be on the shelf of every Nigerian irrespective
of age, sex or religious affiliate because it contains life lessons that are useful for
all and sundry and promotes the unity of this great country.

Folasade Hunsu, PhD

Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In profound reverence, and adoration, I thank the Almighty God, for giving
me the ideas, wisdom, and continual sound health to write this book.

I want to appreciate the efforts of past presidents, Heads of State, and the
incumbent president of Federal Republic of Nigeria for their novel ideas in
ensuring peace and tranquility in nooks and crannies of our dear country and in
projecting this nation to greater height among the committee of nations in Africa
and beyond. In like manner, I want appreciate the contributions of movers and
shakers of National Youth Service Corps programme in maintaining the smooth
running of the programme in spite of various challenges combating the scheme.

The successful publication of this book was a function of the helps directly
or indirectly rendered by many people. I am grateful and indebted to a lot of
people. I have had the good fortune to have amiable and dynamic Pastor R.Oye
Taiwo, the founder and General Overseer of UCEM International Church (Inc.)
(a.k.a Unity Christ Evangelical Ministry) as my mentor in writing skills. My
unalloyed gratitude and appreciation go to him for his prayers, counseling, and
scholarly suggestions, which were invaluable as they helped me in no small
measure to bring this work to a successful end.

It is like killing the goose that lay the golden egg if I fail to thank Dr.
Folasade Hunsu, English Department of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,
Osun State and Dr. J.O Babalola, English Department of Ekiti State University,
Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, for their creative suggestions, and helps they rendered in
proofreading the manuscript professionally.

Special appreciation goes to my caring mother Mrs. Adesiyan Adebare

Bolatito for her total support during the period of writing this book.
 More so, I credibly appreciate my brothers and sisters, the Adesiyans, for
their contributions towards the success of this book. I ever remain grateful to all
my friends in UCEM Churches and in these states; Taraba, Plateau, Enugu,
Maduguri, Adamawa, Akwa, and in South-West for their motivations and
encouragement in the course of writing this book.

I am grateful to various people quoted in this book and those whose their
ideas reflect in this book. Finally, I am kindly grateful to God for His mercy,
guidance, protection, provision for me from cradle till date.
 PREFACE

This book was written for all and sundry on the face of the earth, especially
the citizens of Nigeria that value and cherish the culture and entity of our dear
country. It preaches hard work and other universal laws of success. Students across
the board will find it as a good motivator for their academic successes and
attainment of the great heights they may desire in life.
It will serve as chilled water on the thirsty tongue for those who enjoy and
love beautiful words woven in idiomatic expressions, proverbs and aphorism. The
stories related in it teach the principles that govern our world and determine
peaceful co-existence among people. The fact remains that the words used in this
book are educating, entertaining and enlightening.
Sunkanmi Adesiyan
Okeigbo,
08065023352, 08138260472.
 CONTENTS
Page
Dedication
Foreword
Acknowledgement
Preface
I The Origin of the Whole Idea.
II The Seemingly Mad Man and His Ordeals.
III Otondo in a New Environment.
IV Meeting an Unusual Friend.
V The Two Hydra-headed Monsters.
VI Man O War activities: Crossing the Hurdles of Life.
VII The Night of Drama.
VIII A Football Pitch without Goalposts.
IX The Open-secret of a Successful Student.
X A 419 Corps Member.
XI A Raging Debate.
XII An Encounter with the Ajuwayas.
XIII The Hours of Festival and Cultural Display.
XIV Camp Fire Night: A Night of Fun and Merrymaking.
XV Fools among the Wise.
 CHAPTER I
The Origin of the Whole Idea
f you refuse to think you will surely sink and stink. Change the way you think,

I you have automatically changed your life. Your life begins to experience
changes when you start to think positively and productively which will lead to
a drastic change in the way you live, learn and love.
I was in Junior Secondary School (JSS), class three to be precise, when
the way I look at things began to change. I did not know it this was a part of
puberty. But all I knew was that my thinking faculty began to take a new course.
Could one say it was inquisitiveness that sparked these experiences in me? Yes it
was. The first and simple emotion which we discover in the human mind is
curiosity. I could now clearly remember that my teacher told me that at puberty
stage, a number of dramatic physical changes occur, accompanied by important
emotional changes and social development. The changes include self-
consciousness, sexual behavior, mood swings, the wish to have more privacy and
inquisitiveness, among others. Inquisitiveness is one of the most permanent and
certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.
I developed interest in knowing almost everything that came my ways or
crossed my mind. I asked a lot of questions in class purposely for better
understanding and to clear any shadow of doubt in my mind. Any question or
assignment given to us in class that I was not able to answer, I approached my
friends uncle who helped me to solve such questions. Excellent! The man was a
genius- a walking encyclopedia indeed! He did teach us a lot of grammatical
expressions that helped greatly in the use of English.
One day, my friend, Julius and I went to his Uncles house as usual for
English Language class. On that day, he was not around. So, we gave him a call to
know his whereabouts. His voice on the other end told us to wait for him. He
described where we could get the key to the house. We got the key and entered his
room. As we settled down on the well-padded armed chair, my eyes scanned the
whole sitting room, unlike before, not for food, though, my friend was busy
ransacking the house for food. But my concern this time was to get something that
could keep me busy productively. Thank God, I found one. I saw a photo album on
the central table. I opened it. The first picture I saw that triggered my curiosity was
that of Uncle who dressed in khaki. On his head was a fez cap. He wore a jungle
boot to match. The logo on the cap was tunnel of fire, stripes of green white green,
Nigerian Map and Flag.
Has uncle been a military officer before? I asked myself. But he is a
lecturer in the University now? Why this military uniform? All kinds of questions
ran through my mind. We had waited for thirty minutes before we heard somebody
rapping on the door. My friend quickly rose up and made for the door. I followed
suit and opened the door.
Sorry for keeping you waiting, my boys, uncle said. Tiredness and
weakness were written boldly on his face. We held principals official meeting
today in the school. It was a marathon meeting indeed, he added.
Welcome sir, I said, stretching out my hand to take his briefcase. You
look tired. My friend brought a cold sachet of water for him. He settled in a chair,
took the sachet of water and said, thank you. Then he nodded at me. Your
observation is right. Apart from the hectic meeting I told you of, the task I
undertook today in our office is what I can call a herculean task really. He started
to loosen his tie and put off his suit. As he placed his hand on his ankle to untie his
shoes lace I asked, what is the meaning of herculean task? He smiled I know
you will be another Socrates of this age. Socrates was a great philosopher, who
asked a lot of questions and through his philosophy of life, he propounded laws
and principles that are of great benefits to teaching and learning today. The
important thing is not to stop asking questions. God has His own reason for
creating the insight of curiosity in man. Children have natural curiosity about the
world around them.
It is shallow-minded people who say curiosity kills the cat. This saying does
not apply to learning. Curiosity boosts and enhances acquisition of knowledge in
educational perspectives. My boy, keep it up. Back to your question. It was from
Greek myth in which, Hercules proved his courage and strength by completing
twelve very difficult and dangerous tasks known as the Labours of Hercules.
People sometimes use the name "Hercules" to describe a man who is very strong
physically. In ancient Greek stories, his name was Herakles. So people call any
great task Herculean task.
I produced a pen from my pocket and jotted what he explained. He asked
Julius to go to the kitchen to bring food for us. We ate to our satisfaction. He asked
for the assignment about which we told him on the cell phone. Julius opened his
bag, brought out a notebook which he handed over to Uncle.
Uncle read: Correct the following expressions and give the meaning of the
idiomatic expressions as applicable.
1. Alaseju Ojulorowa did bite more than she could chew.
2. I use boiling ring when I need hot water.
3. All political thugs are dead from neck up.
He asked if we had attempted the questions.
Yes sir, I answered unhesitantly and gave him the answers that I had written
on a small piece of paper. He turned to my friend and collected his own sheet too.
He flipped through them and nodded I like your enthusiasm and passion for
learning. Both of you got the second question right I use water heater when I
need hot water. The correct form of the first question, Alaseju Ojulorowa did bite
off more than she could chew, is an idiomatic expression, which simply means to
try to do what you do not have power to do. The third question is also an idiomatic
expression Dead from neck up means: they are stupid.
Yes, they are stupid. His face wore a serious expression. He looked into our
eyes and said please, my boys do not join political thugs when you become men.
It is devastating, demeaning and dehumanizing. I mean it can destroy your life and
render it useless. Some of the employers of these political thugs sent their children
to standard schools, even overseas to study. They use the poor youths as tools to
campaign and get to political office by crook or hook. Later they dump them as
torn cloth on a dunghill. Is that clear? He asked loudly and then the serious
expression on his face creased into a gentle smile.
Yes sir, we replied.
I turned to my friend, Uncle really took the answer personal, as if some
unscrupulous politicians had stepped on his toes in the past. I was about to step
out of the house when I remembered that there was a question I wanted to ask him.
So, I quickly turned back. I want to know something about you sir, I said politely.
Hope it is the one I can answer, he replied jokingly. I felt reluctant. Noticing
my reluctance, he said, Come on. Ask me. Im all ears.
Sorry sir, have you attended a military school before?
No. Julius must have told you that I studied Mathematics at the Obafemi
Awolowo University (O.A.U) and later I went to the School of Writing. That is the
reason why Im trying to assist you with your expression.
Dont be offended sir. Did you undergo any Military training or drill in the
past, especially when you were young? My friend clapped amicably on my
shoulder and said, let us go, O boy.
No, uncle answered. Why are you asking these questions? Have you
observed or seen anything?
 Before you came in I was busy looking at your photo album. What I saw made
me to conclude that you had undergone a bit of military drills. You were marching
on parade ground, dressed in khaki and jungle boot to march. You climbed rope,
crawled through a big ring and jumped different heights of hurdles. What really
convinced me that you had undergone military training was the picture you took
with a man in an army uniform.
Yes, you are right on the mark he confirmed nostalgically. That was when I
went for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp a couple of
years ago.
How I wish you narrate your experiences there for us, I requested. One day,
we want to be like you, sir.
Let me tell you, he said with a serious expression on his face. It was a
milestone experience indeed and one that remained ever green in my memory and
had indelible impact on my life. Experience is the mother of wisdom. Wisdom is
the principal thing. What is the benefit of a fool to his community? Absolutely
none. It is a fool that behaves wrongly, he is uncoordinated and perpetrates heinous
crimes in the society. It is because his knowledge is so shallow that he has
forgotten what goes round comes around. A fool fails to acknowledge that when
you do bad things you indirectly harm yourself. Someday, the evil, as a seed
planted, will germinate and grow up and bear fruits. Its fruits will be given to him
and his children as a meal. Fool bites one another but wise men agree. What the
fool does in the end, the wise man does at the beginning. Look at me, my boys.
Dont ever be fools.
Anything you come across whether good or bad try to learn from it. Do not
play a fool with it. That is the secret of wisdom. Wisdom is neither inheritance nor
legacy. Trouble brings experiences and experiences bring wisdom. The wise seeks
wisdom, a fool thinks he has all wisdom. Without wisdom wealth is worthless.
 But take note of this, there is a difference between intelligence and knowledge.
Intelligence comes through innate ability which depends on your level of
intelligent quotient. That is why; they say the aptest horse needs breaking while
the aptest child needs teaching. But knowledge comes through interaction with
people, environment and most importantly the school you attend and books you
read. It is a good thing to possess intelligence and knowledge that add up to
wisdom. When you get them, it is then you can be addressed as a wise person, an
agent of change in the society. We want to travel on the voyage of milestone
experiences to the Camp of the Wise, you need to note one pertinent fact: the
dwellers of the camp are all wise. What made them wise, you queried?
The inhabitants of the camp had been found worthy in character, conduct,
moral, and knowledge before they could be given a certificate that would qualify
them to have the privilege of staying on the camp. They were well-rounded
persons. They had been well groomed in knowledge and character. They had
crossed many hurdles, passed many tests and examinations: they have successfully
completed practical projects and even many had undergone a lot of trainings in
their respective Schools of Wisdom.
They did not only pass through the school but the school really passed through
them leaving indelible marks on their conduct, character and conversation among
people in the society. What a man studies normally passes into his character. It will
be of interest to you to know that not all of them spent the same number of years in
the School of Wisdom. Some spent four years, some five years, and even some of
them spend a good seven years depending on the knowledge they want to acquire.
But, do not forget that what you learn is what you earn. That is the bottom line! It
is my heartfelt prayer that after your secondary school education you will make it
to School of Wisdom.
 Amen, sir, we said, a radiant look on our faces. What do you mean by School
of Wisdom? I asked, looking up from my jotter.
It simply means different higher institution one may attend to bag first degree
or Higher National Diploma (HND) in any field of your choice. It could be a
university, a polytechnic, a mono-technique and what have you. Get it?

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