Dr. Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has urged the Federal Government to consider lengthening the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) duration from one year to two.
He made the call during a visit by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, at his Abuja office. The NYSC confirmed the development in a post on its official Facebook page.
The Minister also pushed for the expansion of the corps’ skills development content, stating that the scheme should better equip participants to become entrepreneurs and reduce unemployment.
Highlighting the shortage of educators in remote communities, Alausa proposed that more corps members be assigned to teach in rural schools to address the issue.
He commended NYSC for its efforts to curb certificate forgery, especially among foreign-trained graduates in West Africa, through a digital mobilization system.
He also lauded the recent resolution of challenges affecting OND part-time graduates with full-time HNDs who had previously been exempted from national service.
Alausa revealed plans to introduce a digital verification system for Nigerians who obtained their degrees abroad, affirming that the Ministry will strengthen its alliance with NYSC to improve national education outcomes.
In his remarks, NYSC boss Brig-Gen. Nafiu praised the Ministry’s efforts and proposed the creation of a student database to track Nigerians studying overseas, which he said would help detect academic fraud.
Permanent Secretary Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan also pledged stronger cooperation between the Ministry and NYSC to uplift the education sector.