The Guardian (Nigeria)

We’ll resist attempts to bring NYSC into disrepute, says DG

- From Owede Agbajileke, Abuja

NATIONAL Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) has vowed to block any threat from any quarter to bring the scheme into disrepute.

The Director- General, BrigGen Yusha'u Ahmed, stated this in Abuja, yesterday, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Batch ' A' PreMobilis­ation Workshop. Speaking on the theme, ' Unlocking Innovative Solutions to the Challenges of the Mobilisati­on Process', Ahmed s a id the corps would continue to embrace innovation­s to ensure seamless operation.

He explained that the physical verificati­on exercise and several other measures adopted would go a long way in exposing fake graduates, especially those claiming to be foreign- trained.

" Over the years, we ha ve black- listed local and foreign institutio­ns found to be engaged in fraudulent practices, in addition to making formal reports on their activities to regulatory authoritie­s. "Moreover , in November 2023, we convened a meeting with representa­tives of tertiary institutio­ns in some African countries, which was also attended by local stakeholde­rs, including the Federal Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs as well as the National Universiti­es Commission ( NUC). We used that a venue to discuss challenges in the mobilisati­on of graduates trained in the affected countries, as well as un veil fresh guidelines and requiremen­ts, including submission of master lists of Nigerian graduates by the invited institutio­ns,” he stated.

The DG used the forum to solicit the continued support of relevant Ministries, Department­s and Agencies ( MDAS) and other stakeholde­rs in the scheme’s unrelentin­g efforts to block fake graduates from mobilisati­on. “These elements pose serious threats to the socio- economic wellbeing of the countr y, especially when allowed to penetrate the workforce of sensitive sectors such as health and education," he added.

Ahmed was upbeat that the outcome of the workshop would culminate in a more efficient and credible mobilisati­on process.

In her remarks, Minister of Youth Developmen­t, Jamila Ibrahim.

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