The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that polytechnic graduates or holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) who cannot provide evidence of completing the mandatory 12-month industrial training (IT) will not be allowed to register at the NYSC orientation camps for the national youth service.
Mrs. Caroline Lembu, the acting Director of Press and Public Relations at NYSC, stated on Thursday that presenting a certificate of industrial training is a requirement for polytechnic graduates wishing to participate in the one-year national youth service.
Recently, the NYSC introduced a new policy requiring graduates of polytechnics and monotechnics to submit an IT certification as part of the prerequisites for national service, particularly for participation in camp activities.
Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, the NYSC Coordinator for Lagos State, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on August 3, 2024.
She explained that prospective corps members “must complete the one-year IT with proof of completion before pursuing their HND, and institutions must verify this before admitting them for HND.”
“The directive will take effect from the next orientation camp, and we will not register any candidate who did not complete or undergo the process,” Baderinwa said.
Speaking further on Thursday, NYSC spokesperson Lembu confirmed that the policy has already been implemented.
“That is part of the requirement for obtaining an HND certificate, isn’t it? So, it’s just that certificate. That is one of the documents they are required to present at the camp.
They would get admission into the camp, but whether they would be registered or not is the issue. You know, everyone is admitted to the camp, and your documents are scrutinized. But what happens is that is the requirement.”
Lembu noted that polytechnic students “are supposed to do the 12-month training” as a prerequisite for obtaining the HND certificate.
“It is a prerequisite for getting the HND certificate. That is just the certificate they are asking for. They are not being rejected; they are just supposed to present it,” she said.
However, investigations by The NEWS REVIEW showed that HND holders without IT certificates are being turned away from NYSC orientation camps across the country.
In Osun State, NYSC Public Relations Officer Funmi Okundaye confirmed that the policy is being enforced.
“They were not evicted from camp. It is not an issue in the Osun camp alone. It is a national policy to sanitize the education sector.
We sent those who don’t have IT letters back home to bring them. It is part of the registration materials they must bring to camp.
“Once they bring their IT letters from where they observed it, they will be allowed to return to the camp,” Okundaye said.
A similar situation was reported in Niger State, where the NYSC spokesperson, Sam Oga, confirmed that polytechnic graduates without IT certificates are not being registered.
“Yes, we are implementing it. The NYSC HND candidates are not allowed into the camp without proof of IT. Until we get a counter-directive, they will not be allowed into the camp,” Oga said.
The policy is also being enforced in Kano State, where an NYSC official, speaking anonymously, said, “This is a directive from the NYSC headquarters in Abuja. So, we are just complying with the order.”
ASUP Supports NYSC
In an interview on Thursday, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Mr. Shammah Kpanja, expressed support for the NYSC policy.
“The industrial attachment is an extension of the National Diploma program and is a critical requirement for advancing to the Higher National Diploma.
To be eligible for the HND, you must complete a one-year industrial attachment, where you acquire practical industry skills relevant to your field of study. After completing the IT, you can then enroll for the HND.
“However, some students bypass this requirement by staying at home after their ND and falsely claiming to have completed the IT when they apply for the HND.
This deprives them of the practical experience that is essential for their development.
The one-year industrial attachment is not just a formality; it’s a mandatory part of the training, and the skills gained during this period are expected to be demonstrated during the HND program.”
Kpanja explained that NYSC’s decision not to admit polytechnic graduates without IT certificates is in line with a directive from the National Board for Technical Education.
“The one-year IT is compulsory and is a key criterion for admission into the HND.
The National Board for Technical Education has communicated to the National Youth Service Corps that IT is mandatory, ensuring that students who skipped this step are not mobilized for the NYSC.
The entire program spans five years, and the inclusion of the industrial attachment is fully supported as it provides invaluable experience for students,” Kpanja said.
 has announced that polytechnic graduates or holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) who cannot provide evidence of completing the mandatory 12-month industrial training (IT) will not be allowed to register at the NYSC orientation camps for the national youth service.){kind=link}