…insists part-time graduates remain ineligible
By Adam Mosadioluwa
The Federal Government (FG), has approved the mobilisation of all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, announced the development in a statement on Thursday on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa.
According to the statement, only those who completed their HND programmes on a full-time basis would be eligible for mobilisation, while part-time graduates would remain ineligible.
The decision marks a significant step in addressing the concerns of HND graduates who were previously excluded from the NYSC scheme despite meeting academic requirements.
The Ministry described the move as part of its commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and equity in the education system.
To ensure a smooth implementation, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible graduates.
The statement added that a circular has also been sent to all polytechnic rectors to upload graduate records to a newly developed HND admission portal, which will serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation.
The Education Minister said the new portal would ensure proper documentation of eligible graduates and help resolve previous challenges associated with record verification.
He urged all qualified full-time HND graduates to take advantage of the opportunity and proceed with their mobilization without delay.
The statement reads, “The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, is pleased to announce the resolution of the long-standing issue regarding the mobilization of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Following a dialogue with the Director-General of NYSC, the Minister confirmed that only full-time HND graduates are eligible and can now proceed with their mobilization.
“This development marks a significant breakthrough for full-time HND graduates who were previously excluded from the NYSC program. It underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in the nation’s education system. However, those who did HND part-time are not eligible for mobilization at all.
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“To facilitate a seamless mobilization process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to expedite the collation of data for eligible HND graduates. In line with this, a circular has been sent to all Rectors of Polytechnics, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate data onto the newly created HND admission portal.
“Dr. Alausa emphasized that NYSC mobilization is strictly for those who completed a full-time HND program, stressing that only full-time HND graduates will be mobilized, while those who did HND part-time remain ineligible. He further disclosed that the newly created portal will ensure proper documentation of full-time HND graduates and serve as the official database for NYSC mobilization, addressing past challenges related to admission records.
“The Honourable Minister urges all eligible full-time HND graduates to take full advantage of this opportunity and proceed with their mobilization without delay. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates and ensuring their contributions to national development through the NYSC scheme.”
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