The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that Nigeria’s Ministry of Education has proposed extending the scheme’s duration from one to two years.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the service corps Director of Public Relations, Caroline Embu, the Corps highlighted its ongoing reform initiatives aimed at combating certificate fraud.
During a courtesy visit to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in Abuja on Friday, NYSC Director-General Olakunle Nafiu reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to aligning with federal government directives and reforming the scheme to meet national priorities.
This development follows a 2024 federal investigation which revealed that approximately 22,789 Nigerians had used forged foreign degree certificates to gain admission into the NYSC programme. In response, the government initiated widespread reforms to curb the exploitation of the system.
Dr Alausa noted ongoing efforts within the Ministry to digitise the verification process for foreign-trained graduates of Nigerian origin. He commended the scheme for already digitising its mobilisation process, a move aimed at curbing certificate fraud.
The Minister reportedly advocated for the extension of national service to two years, stating that it would allow for an expansion of the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme. According to him, this would equip corps members with more robust training, enabling them to become job creators and contributors to national development.
“You have performed commendably as an organisation. Let the NYSC provide more opportunities for our youths to become creators of jobs that address national needs,” Alausa told the NYSC DG.
In his remarks, Mr Nafiu called for the establishment of a centralised database to track Nigerian youths studying abroad. He said this initiative would enable the government to maintain comprehensive records and help eliminate the issue of fake graduates.
“We are also working to reform the scheme so that it aligns with contemporary national demands,” Nafiu affirmed.
