In a bid to boost job creation and enhance skills development, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has called for the extension of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year from one to two years. The proposal was announced on Friday during a courtesy visit by the new Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at the minister’s office in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa emphasized the need to expand the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training programme, stating that a longer service period would provide corps members with increased opportunities to acquire practical skills and become effective job creators. “You have done so well as an organization. Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country,” he said.
The Minister also commended the digitalized processes recently introduced within the NYSC framework, which have significantly curbed certificate racketeering among foreign-trained graduates in West Africa. In addition, he addressed the persistent issue concerning OND part-time graduates paired with full-time HND holders, who were previously exempted from the national service requirement. Dr. Alausa suggested that these groups be re-examined under the new scheme to ensure fairness and equal opportunity.
In his remarks, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu lauded Dr. Alausa for his innovative strides in the education sector, noting that the minister’s forward-thinking policies have brought significant improvements. General Nafiu also advocated for the creation of a comprehensive database of Nigerian youths pursuing degree programmes abroad, a move that would facilitate better tracking and support for future national development initiatives.
The call for a two-year extension of the NYSC service has generated significant interest among stakeholders who believe that an extended service period will not only enhance skill acquisition but also foster entrepreneurship among the nation’s youth. As discussions on the proposal continue, both the Ministry of Education and NYSC are expected to collaborate on refining the programme to better address the evolving needs of Nigeria’s labor market.
With these proposals on the table, government officials and industry experts alike are watching closely to see how these changes could reshape the landscape of national service and contribute to long-term economic growth in Nigeria.
