The Federal Government has approved the mobilisation of all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Thursday in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, in Abuja.
Boriowo, quoting Alausa, stated that following discussions with the NYSC Director-General, it was agreed that only graduates who completed their HND through full-time study would be eligible for mobilisation.
Describing the decision as a significant step towards fairness and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education system, Alausa noted that it resolved a long-standing issue that had previously excluded HND graduates from participating in the scheme.
He further stated that to ensure a seamless process, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had been directed to expedite the collation of data for qualified graduates.
“We have also instructed all Polytechnic Rectors to upload details of eligible graduates onto a newly developed HND admission portal,” he added.
Alausa emphasised that only full-time HND graduates would be eligible for mobilisation, while those who obtained their diplomas through part-time programmes would remain ineligible.
He noted that the new portal would not only serve as an official database for NYSC mobilisation but also address past challenges related to admission records.
Encouraging eligible full-time HND graduates to take advantage of this opportunity, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all qualified Nigerian graduates. He stressed the importance of their participation in the NYSC scheme as part of their contribution to national development.
