I Kept Praying NYSC Would Post Me To The East, Because I’m The Only Girl My Father Has” Dada

According to a video posted on Chude Podcast on Saturday October 10, 2026, actress Omowunmi Dada said she had hoped to be posted to eastern Nigeria during her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year because she was worried about her safety.

She explained that being her father’s only daughter made the prospect of taking risks particularly difficult for her and her family.

Dada shared the memory while discussing her 2011 service year and her posting to Jigawa State.

She recalled being distressed when she learnt where she would serve, as the area was associated in her mind with the Boko Haram insurgency.

Although she said Jigawa was relatively safe during that period, her initial reaction reflected the concern she felt before travelling there.

The actress’s comments also revealed the family considerations behind her preference for a posting closer to the eastern part of the country.

Her father’s concern for her safety was part of the way she understood the situation, and she did not want to expose herself to what she considered unnecessary danger.

In her words, Omowunmi Dada said, “But you know after I still had to—I’m the only girl my father has. You cannot be taking risks,” she said, recalling the concern surrounding her posting.

In another part of the conversation, she explained that she had kept hoping to be posted to the East for safety reasons.

Dada’s experience formed part of a wider conversation with Chude about the purpose of national service and how it can introduce young Nigerians to places and communities beyond their familiar surroundings.

The scheme can broaden perspectives, but postings can also raise practical questions about distance, security and family worries.

Despite her initial fear, Dada went to Jigawa, where she said conditions were relatively safe at the time.

Her account illustrates the uncertainty some graduates may feel when they receive postings to unfamiliar locations, especially when reports of insecurity influence how they view those destinations.

The conversation also considered how direct experience can help people understand the realities of different parts of Nigeria. Dada’s recollection combined her personal anxiety with a recognition that the situation on the ground was not necessarily as dangerous as she had feared.

Watch headline quotes from 00:30:22–00:30:30):

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