The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appealed to Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities to help ensure that only qualified graduates from their institutions are mobilized for the national service. The call was made by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, during a meeting with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors (CVC) of Nigerian Universities in Abuja. He emphasized the importance of credible mobilization, warning against the inclusion of unqualified individuals, particularly those from unaccredited foreign institutions in Benin Republic and Togo.

General Nafiu also urged universities and other Corps Producing Institutions (CPIs) to properly document students who transfer between institutions to maintain the integrity of their graduate lists. He commended the VCs for producing graduates who are worthy in both learning and character, ready for the global workforce and entrepreneurship opportunities. The DG highlighted challenges affecting the mobilization process, such as poor ICT infrastructure and limited technical skills among some university staff. He revealed that the entire process has now been automated, urging institutions to employ skilled ICT personnel to prevent errors and malpractices.

According to him, the lack of ICT expertise has led some Registrars and Student Affairs Officers (SAOs) to share their login credentials with unauthorized individuals, creating loopholes for misconduct. He also cautioned institutions against allowing unauthorized officials to sign correspondences to NYSC, stressing that only letters signed by Vice-Chancellors or Registrars would be recognized.


General Nafiu further advised institutions to promptly notify NYSC’s Mobilization and ICT departments whenever they encounter issues uploading graduates’ lists. He expressed concern over the increasing number of requests for data alterations - particularly changes in dates of birth and graduation - which, he said, could compromise the accuracy of mobilization records.

He reiterated that NYSC sources primary mobilization data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and verifies applicants’ bio-data through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Discrepancies between JAMB and institutional records, he warned, would not be tolerated. However, he added that cases involving genuine errors should be corrected by liaising directly with JAMB and ensuring consistency with NIMC records.

The DG also announced that NYSC will soon begin enforcing the new policy that requires prospective Corps Members to provide proof of compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) before mobilization begins. Assuring the universities of NYSC’s continued partnership, General Nafiu said:

“As the chief executives of your institutions, we count on your support to help us fulfill our mandate. The NYSC remains committed to working with you to achieve seamless and transparent mobilization of qualified Nigerian graduates.”

Responding on behalf of the Vice-Chancellors, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, VC of Igbinedion University, Okada, and Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, commended the NYSC DG for his leadership and his efforts to strengthen the education system. He pledged that all identified lapses in the mobilization process would be promptly addressed.