The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, proposed doubling the duration of the National Youth Service Corps program, suggesting a shift from one to two years.
Alausa made this statement on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to his office in Abuja.
As stated on NYSC’s official Facebook page, the minister also emphasized the need to expand the content of the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development 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 programme content for corps members,” the statement read.
The minister also advocated for the increased deployment of graduate teachers to rural schools, highlighting that this would help address the staffing shortages in these areas.
He praised the NYSC management for its proactive and digitized approach to the mobilization process, which aims to combat certificate racketeering involving some foreign-trained graduates from West Africa.
Alausa also commended the scheme for resolving the long-standing issue of OND part-time graduates with full-time HNDs, who were previously exempted from National Service.
Additionally, Alausa mentioned that efforts were underway within the ministry to digitize the verification process for foreign-trained Nigerian graduates. He further stated that the Ministry and NYSC would continue to strengthen their partnership to enhance education for the nation’s development.
“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,” 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 programmes, 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.