Education Minister Advocates for Extension of National Youth Service Corps Scheme

The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has called for the extension of the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme from one year to two years. Alausa made this suggestion during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

According to a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the NYSC, Alausa also emphasized the importance of enhancing the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Training Programme for corps members. He proposed expanding the content of the program to better equip graduates with the skills necessary to thrive in the labor market. “The minister also advocated for the extension of national service from one to two years, with the expansion of NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training programme content for corps members,” the statement said.

Alausa further highlighted the critical need to deploy more graduate teachers to rural schools in Nigeria. He argued that this move would help bridge the manpower gap in these underserved areas, ensuring that more students across the country receive a quality education. His comments reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to address educational disparities in rural communities.

In addition to these proposals, the Education Minister commended the NYSC management for its efforts to modernize the mobilization process, particularly in curbing certificate racketeering. Alausa praised the digitalization initiatives aimed at addressing fraudulent activities, especially those involving foreign-trained graduates within West Africa. He expressed his approval, saying, “You have done so well as an organisation. Let NYSC give people more opportunities to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country.”

Alausa also acknowledged the NYSC’s role in resolving the longstanding issue surrounding the exemption of part-time OND graduates with full-time HND qualifications from the national service. This was seen as a significant step in ensuring that more graduates participate in the NYSC program and contribute to national development.

The Minister further stated that his ministry was working on digitalizing the verification process for foreign-trained Nigerian graduates. He noted that efforts were ongoing to improve the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the NYSC, with the goal of strengthening the education system and contributing to the country’s overall development. “We will further strengthen our alliance towards the improvement of education for national development,” Alausa said.

Earlier in the meeting, Brigadier General Nafiu praised the innovations and progress made by the Ministry of Education under Alausa’s leadership. He suggested the establishment of a comprehensive database to track Nigerian youths pursuing degree programs abroad, which would help the government and other stakeholders identify counterfeit graduates. “NYSC is ready to comply with policy guidelines as directed by the Federal Government. We are also trying to reform the Scheme to conform with the present national needs,” Nafiu stated.

Finally, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, expressed the ministry’s commitment to collaborating more closely with the NYSC to enhance the country’s educational standards.