ABUJA, FCT– The National Universities Commission (NUC) has formally revealed a pending evaluation of the policy leaving out graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) plan.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Abdullahi Ribadu, divulged the organized intervention following a high-level appeal from the Chancellor of NOUN and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.
The relocation marks a prospective juncture for countless NOUN graduates who have actually long advocated for equivalent treatment with their counterparts from conventional “brick-and-mortar” universities.
Attending to the “Age Dynamics”
Historically, NOUN graduates were omitted from the 1 year obligatory service mainly since the institution’s demographic included working specialists well above the 30-year age limitation for NYSC mobilisation. Nevertheless, Ribadu kept in mind that the “characteristics have altered” substantially recently.
The NUC chief mentioned that NOUN is significantly drawing in more youthful students who complete their degrees well before the age of 30.
Under the present framework, these eligible young Nigerians are issued exclusion certificates rather than being mobilised for service, a scenario the Oba of Benin described as “unequal treatment.”
Strategic Engagement with NYSC
Executive Secretary Ribadu assured that the NUC would initiate official dialogue with the management of the NYSC to update the mobilisation framework.
The goal is to develop a policy that identifies the polyvalent nature of modern open-distance learning while ensuring that age-eligible graduates are not disadvantaged in the labour market.
“I want to guarantee you, at NUC, we will engage with NYSC to see what policy changes can be made,” Ribadu mentioned, acknowledging that the lack of mobilisation frequently develops a barrier for NOUN graduates seeking specific public sector roles.
Advocacy from the Throne
The push for reform acquired considerable momentum following the Chancellor’s speech, where the Oba of Benin emphasised that education ought to be a tool for nationwide combination.
He argued that permitting more youthful NOUN graduates to serve along with their peers in orientation camps across the 36 states would even more the university’s objective of inclusion and nationwide transformation.
This advancement coincides with the recent statement that 56 inmates and over 24,000 other students are set for the university’s 15th convocation.
Read also: Redemption through understanding: 56 prisoners to graduate at NOUN’s 15th convocation.
By dealing with the NYSC traffic jam, the NUC aims to solidify NOUN’s status as a top-tier option for young Nigerians seeking flexible yet fully certified higher education.
Must the negotiations prosper, the 2026/2027 academic sessions might see the very first batch of NOUN graduates wearing the renowned NYSC khaki, a move that would bridge the long-standing space between range learning and standard university experiences in Nigeria.