By Deborah Nnamdi
The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has proposed extending the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program from one year to two years.
Alausa made this suggestion on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to his office in Abuja.
A statement shared on NYSC’s official Facebook page also revealed that the minister recommended expanding the content of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Training Programme for corps members.
“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 program content for corps members,” the statement read.
He commended the management of NYSC for its proactive and digitalized efforts in the mobilization process, aimed at curbing certificate racketeering involving some foreign-trained graduates within West Africa, and advocated for the deployment of more graduate teachers to serve in rural schools, saying this would fill the manpower gap in the schools.
Alausa also hailed the scheme for resolving the lingering issue of OND part-time graduates with full-time HND who were previously exempted from National Service.
Alausa stated further that efforts were ongoing in the ministry to digitize the verification of foreign-trained graduates of Nigerian origin, saying the Ministry and NYSC would further strengthen their alliance towards the improvement of education for national development.
“You have done so well as an organization. Let NYSC give people more opportunities to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the NYSC Director General, Brig-Gen. Nafiu lauded the ministry’s innovation and giant strides in the education sector.
He called for the establishment of a database for Nigerian youths going abroad to study for degree programs, adding that this would help the government and other stakeholders in the education sector identify fake 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,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to work with NYSC more effectively towards uplifting the standard of education in the country.
