ABUJA, FCT– The National Universities Commission (NUC) has actually formally announced a pending evaluation of the policy omitting 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 planned intervention following a high-level appeal from the Chancellor of NOUN and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.
The move marks a potential juncture for thousands of NOUN graduates who have long advocated for equal treatment with their counterparts from traditional “brick-and-mortar” universities.
Attending to the “Age Dynamics”
Historically, NOUN graduates were omitted from the 1 year compulsory service mainly since the organization’s group consisted of working professionals well above the 30-year age limit for NYSC mobilisation. Nevertheless, Ribadu noted that the “characteristics have actually changed” considerably over the last few years.
The NUC chief mentioned that NOUN is significantly attracting younger students who complete their degrees well before the age of 30.
Under the current framework, these eligible young Nigerians are released exemption certificates rather than being mobilised for service, a circumstance the Oba of Benin described as “unequal treatment.”
Strategic Engagement with NYSC
Executive Secretary Ribadu guaranteed that the NUC would start formal discussion with the leadership of the NYSC to update the mobilisation structure.
The goal is to develop a policy that recognises the polyvalent nature of modern open-distance knowing while making sure 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 specified, acknowledging that the lack of mobilisation typically creates a barrier for NOUN graduates seeking certain public sector functions.
Advocacy from the Throne
The push for reform gained substantial momentum following the Chancellor’s speech, where the Oba of Benin emphasised that education should be a tool for national integration.
He argued that allowing younger NOUN graduates to serve together with their peers in orientation camps throughout the 36 states would further the university’s objective of addition and nationwide transformation.
This development coincides with the recent statement that 56 prisoners and over 24,000 other students are set for the university’s 15th convocation.
Read likewise: Redemption through understanding: 56 prisoners to finish at NOUN’s 15th convocation.
By resolving the NYSC traffic jam, the NUC intends to strengthen NOUN’s status as a top-tier option for young Nigerians looking for flexible yet totally certified higher education.
Need to the settlements prosper, the 2026/2027 scholastic sessions might see the very first batch of NOUN graduates putting on the iconic NYSC khaki, a relocation that would bridge the enduring gap between range learning and conventional university experiences in Nigeria.