KEY POINTS

• Nigeria’s education minister has proposed extending the NYSC program from one to two years to expand skills training for graduates.
• The plan includes deploying more NYSC teachers to rural schools and creating a database for Nigerian students studying abroad.
• Both officials agreed to strengthen collaboration between the education ministry and NYSC to enhance national development.

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has proposed extending the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, program from one year to two years.

The minister made the announcement during a meeting with the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in Abuja on Saturday.

Alausa argued that the extension would allow for an expanded Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, better equipping graduates for self-employment. “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,” he said, according to a statement by NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu.

NYSC DG calls for creation of national database

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Nafiu urged the creation of a national database for Nigerian students studying abroad. “This would help the government and other stakeholders in the education sector to have detailed records of Nigerian students studying abroad and also eliminate fake graduates,” he explained.

Channelstv reports that Nafiu assured that the scheme was undergoing reforms to align with current national needs.

In response, Alausa confirmed ongoing efforts to digitize the verification process for foreign-trained Nigerian graduates.

The proposed extension of National Youth Service Corps  program comes amid growing concerns about graduate unemployment and skills gaps in the country’s workforce. With over 300,000 graduates participating annually in the 51-year-old program, critics have long argued the scheme needs modernization to remain relevant.

Economic analysts note the extended duration could help address Nigeria’s 42% youth unemployment rate if properly implemented. “A two-year program with robust skills training could transform NYSC from a symbolic service year into a genuine career launchpad,” said Dr. Amina Mohammed, an education policy expert at the University of Lagos. However, she cautioned that success would depend on adequate funding and private sector partnerships for the expanded SAED program.