The University of Ibadan has hosted a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) sensitization programme for its final year students.
The Dean of Students, Professor Ademola Lewis, who represented the Vice- Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp at the programme stated that it was an opportunity for the students to be acquainted with the core ideals of NYSC and be equipped with information that will enable them to have a seamless registration for NYSC deployment and have a successful service year.
The Deputy Director of Mobilization, NYSC Headquarters, Abuja, Dr Abraham Oludolapo Ayodeji shared the historical background of the establishment of the scheme, explained its objectives and enumerated the many achievements recorded by the NYSC in its years of existence.
He explained eligibility for participating in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, stating that only Nigerians who obtained a First Degree or Higher National Diploma (BA/B.Sc/MBBS/LL.B/HND) from accredited institutions of higher learning – Universities, Polytechnics and Monotechnics within and outside Nigeria not above 30 years of age at graduation are qualified to be mobilized.
Dr Ayodeji further explained the bases for exemption and exclusion from service, noting that the certificates issued for these two categories are equally tenable like that of those who observed the one-year mandatory scheme.
He also explained the mobilisation process, deployment policy and clarified the bases for concessional requests for deployment, advising that students should be truthful in their claims when requesting for concessional deployment because falsehood in this regard has far-reaching consequences.
The Deputy Director stated that the NYSC scheme has four cardinal programmes, which, according to him, are: Orientation, Primary Assignment, Secondary Assignment/Community Development Service, and Winding-Up/Passing Out.
He assured the students that the Management of the NYSC is not unaware of the security challenges in some states, saying that NYSC will grant relocation to those who are deployed to such states but do not want to serve there for security reasons.
He said that such corps members are supposed to apply for relocation during the orientation programme but cautioned that it is not automatic that such corps members will be relocated to the states they have indicated on their application forms but may be relocated to states where there are no security challenges.
He stressed that the entire security architecture of the country is activated during the period of mobilization to orientation camps and warned the students to avoid night journeys as corps members during that period.
The ICT officer of the Oyo State Secretariat, Mrs Izuegbu Ada Peace, later explained the technicalities, stages, and procedures for registration on the NYSC portal, including the biometric and facial capture processes.
The Deputy Registrar, Student Affairs Division, Mr Suleiman Oyewumi appreciated the NYSC team for the sensitization programme, describing it as insightful and reassuring. He also thanked the students for participating actively.
