Nigeria’s Education Minister Suggests Longer NYSC and More Skills Training
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, wants to make the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program longer. He thinks it should go from one year to two years.
The minister talked about this idea at a meeting. He met with the head of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in Abuja.
Mr. Alausa believes it is important to make the NYSC program better. He especially wants to improve the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training.
He suggested that young people serving in the NYSC should spend two years instead of one. This would give them more time to learn valuable skills and gain experience.
The official statement from the NYSC said that the minister wants to “expand NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training programme content for corps members.”
Mr. Alausa praised the NYSC for the work they are doing. He encouraged them to create more chances for young people to become job creators. This would help Nigeria meet its needs.
He said, “You have done so well as an organization. Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country.”
Besides making the NYSC longer, Mr. Alausa also talked about the lack of teachers in rural schools. He wants more graduate teachers to be sent to these areas where there are not enough teachers.
Fighting Fake Certificates
The minister also praised the NYSC for working to stop certificate fraud. This is especially a problem with graduates who studied in other countries.
Mr. Alausa said the NYSC’s plan to use computers for the registration process will help. It will make things more clear and stop fake activities.
He also thanked the NYSC for solving a problem with part-time college graduates getting full-time degrees. These graduates used to be excused from the NYSC.
Using Technology
Mr. Alausa said the Ministry of Education is also starting to use computers to check the degrees of Nigerians who studied abroad.
He said the Ministry and the NYSC will work together more closely. This will help improve education in Nigeria and help the country grow.
During the meeting, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, the head of the NYSC, praised the Ministry for improving education. He also suggested creating a list of Nigerian students studying in other countries. This could help find fake graduates and stop fake certificates.
Mr. Nafiu said, “NYSC is ready to follow the rules set by the Federal Government. We are also trying to change the Scheme to fit the current needs of the country.”
Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, who works at the Ministry of Education, said the Ministry will work more with the NYSC. This is to make education better in Nigeria.