The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for using technology and digital innovations to improve its operations and tackle fraudulent activities.
Alausa gave the commendation in Abuja when the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, paid him a courtesy visit.
The minister particularly praised the scheme’s leadership for introducing technology into the registration and deployment of corps members, describing the development as a major improvement in the NYSC system.
Alausa recalled that the NYSC’s decision to digitise its registration process initially attracted resistance from some members of the public.
He, however, noted that the adoption of technology had significantly improved the efficiency and smoothness of registration and deployment.
The minister said the digital transformation had helped the scheme achieve more seamless operations while reducing opportunities for fraudulent practices.
“I would like to commend you for all the transformation that you have brought to NYSC and the use of technology to ensure seamless operations and deployment of Corps Members,” Alausa said.
Responding to the minister, Nafiu disclosed that the NYSC had introduced stronger security features on corps members’ call-up and posting letters.
The move followed attempts by fraudsters to clone the official documents and use fake letters to deceive prospective employers and extort money from unsuspecting corps members.
According to the NYSC boss, the enhanced security measures have made the documents more difficult to manipulate or reproduce fraudulently.
Nafiu said the upgraded security features would also make it easier for employers to establish whether call-up and posting letters presented by prospective employees were genuine.
The development is expected to help reduce cases involving fake NYSC documentation while protecting corps members and employers from fraudulent activities.
The NYSC has continued to strengthen its digital systems as part of efforts to improve the administration and credibility of the national service programme.
The NYSC Director-General also disclosed that a joint committee involving officials of the NYSC and the Federal Ministry of Education had been established.
The committee is expected to deepen cooperation between both institutions and improve coordination in areas relating to the National Youth Service Corps.
Nafiu said the collaboration would also help ensure that only graduates who meet the required qualifications and eligibility criteria are admitted into the NYSC scheme.
The joint initiative is expected to support stronger verification of graduates before they participate in the national service programme.
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By improving collaboration between the NYSC and the Ministry of Education, the authorities aim to strengthen the integrity of the process and reduce opportunities for unqualified individuals to gain entry into the scheme.
The development also forms part of broader efforts to use digital tools to improve transparency and efficiency in public-sector operations.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa has praised the NYSC for embracing technology to modernise its operations and combat fraud.
With enhanced security features on call-up and posting letters, alongside a new joint committee with the Federal Ministry of Education, the scheme is seeking to improve document verification and ensure that only eligible Nigerian graduates participate in the national service programme.