The Nigerian Education Minister, Tunji Alausa, has suggested that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should be extended from one year to two years. This idea was shared during a meeting with the NYSC Director-General, Olakunle Nafiu, in Abuja.

The suggestion is part of a larger plan to improve the NYSC programme and tackle the issue of fake certificates. In 2024, a federal investigation showed that more than 22,000 Nigerians used fake foreign degrees to join the NYSC. This led the government to start reforms aimed at cleaning up the system.

The Minister praised NYSC’s efforts to digitalise its mobilisation process, saying it has helped reduce certificate fraud. He also mentioned that the ministry is working on a new digital process to verify foreign-trained graduates more effectively.

Alausa believes that by extending NYSC to two years, the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme could be expanded. This would give corps members more time to learn skills and start their own businesses. “NYSC should help young people become job creators who can meet the country’s needs,” he said.

In response, the NYSC DG said the scheme will continue to follow government plans and is already working on reforms that match Nigeria’s current needs. He also suggested creating a national database to track Nigerian students who go abroad for their studies. This would help the government spot fake graduates more easily.

The idea of extending NYSC to two years is still a proposal, but it’s getting attention as part of efforts to improve the programme and support youth development in Nigeria.