The management of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has revealed that it has adopted digital solutions, including physical verification and other measures to expose and check incidences of mobilisation of fake graduates for the compulsory one year national service.

The scheme has recently been enmeshed in fraudulent enrolment of unqualified persons as prospective corps members.

NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, made the disclosure in his address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Batch ‘A’ Pre-mobilisation workshop held in Abuja on Thursday.

He equally assured that the scheme remained unwavering in its determination to block any threat to the credibility of the mobilisation, including attempts by unqualified persons to get enlisted for the national service.

Wondering why the menace had continued, the DG recalled that over the years, the management had 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.

“The recurring nature of some of the challenges faced in our operation has necessitated the adoption of more enduring strategies, especially the application of digital solutions. As a management committed to repositioning the scheme for greater efficiency, we shall continue to embrace innovations that will ensure seamless handling of the exercise.

“This informed the choice of the theme of this workshop, “Unlocking Innovative Solutions to the Challenges of the Mobilisation Process.” I would like to remind our key partners that this theme is not just a slogan, but a call to action.

“It challenges us to think beyond traditional boundaries, view issues from fresh perspectives and adopt more effective problem-solving approaches. I am, therefore, confident that the outcomes of this workshop will culminate in a more efficient and more credible mobilisation process,” he assured.

On the measures adopted, General Ahmed said: “I would like to assure everyone that we remain unwavering in our determination to block any threat to the credibility of the mobilisation, including attempts by unqualified persons to get enlisted for the national service.”

“The physical verification exercise and several other measures adopted in this regard have gone a long way in exposing fake graduates, especially those claiming to be foreign-trained. Over the years, we have 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.

“In November 2023, we convened a meeting with representatives of tertiary institutions based 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.

“We used that avenue to discuss challenges in the mobilisation of graduates trained in the affected countries as well as unveil fresh guidelines and requirements, including submission of master lists of Nigerian graduates by the invited institutions.

“I consider it most appropriate to use this forum to solicit the continued support of relevant Ministries, agencies and other stakeholders in our unrelenting efforts to block fake graduates from mobilisation. As we all know these elements pose serious threats to the socio-economic wellbeing of the country, especially when allowed to penetrate the workforce of sensitive sectors such as health and education,” he said.

In her own address, Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, reassured that the federal government will continue to provide the needed support to ensure the transformation of the scheme. (Daily Sun)

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