EducationNewsNigeriaPoliticsMinister Proposes 2-Year NYSC, Wants Focus on Job Creation

In a move that could reshape the future of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Minister of State for Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, has suggested that the one-year national service be extended to two years.

Dr Alausa proposed on Friday during a visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yusha’u Dogara Ahmed.

According to a post on NYSC’s official Facebook page, the Minister believes the extension would give young graduates more time to gain valuable entrepreneurial skills and training.

“The Minister also advocated 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 post read.

Dr Alausa further pushed for more corps members, especially graduate teachers, to be posted to rural communities. He said this would help tackle the shortage of manpower in under-served areas.

He also addressed the lingering issue of part-time OND graduates with full-time HND qualifications, previously exempted from national service. According to him, the ministry is working towards a resolution.

“You have done so well as an organisation. Let NYSC give people more opportunities to become job creators that will meet the country’s needs,” Alausa told the NYSC leadership.

Responding, Brigadier General Ahmed stressed the need for a proper database of Nigerian students studying abroad. He explained that such a system would help verify qualifications and reduce the number of fake graduates returning to the country.

“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.

While the Minister’s proposal is yet to be officially adopted, it has sparked conversations around the scheme’s future and the growing need to equip Nigerian graduates with practical life and entrepreneurial skills.

By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter)

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