The National Universities Commission (NUC) has initiated moves to facilitate the participation of graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The NUC Executive Secretary, Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed this in Abuja during the university’s 15th convocation ceremony, where more than 24,000 students graduated across various disciplines.
Policy shift underway
Mr Ribadu said the commission would engage the NYSC to review existing policies that have historically excluded NOUN graduates from the mandatory one-year national service.
He explained that the move is driven by changing realities in Nigeria’s higher education system, particularly the evolving profile of NOUN students.
“Many of the graduates are now within the eligible age bracket for national service,” he said.
For years, NOUN graduates have been excluded from the NYSC scheme, largely due to the perception that most students of the open university system are older and therefore ineligible.
Changing demographics
However, the NUC boss noted that the situation has changed significantly, with a growing number of younger students enrolling in and graduating from the institution.
This development, he said, makes it necessary to revisit policies to ensure fairness and inclusiveness in the system.
Expanding access to education
Mr Ribadu also emphasised the role of open and distance learning in addressing Nigeria’s limited university admission capacity.
He described NOUN as a critical platform for expanding access to higher education, noting that the institution currently has over 500,000 students nationwide.
Convocation highlights
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Uduma Uduma, said a total of 24,575 students graduated at the ceremony, covering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
He said the milestone reflects the university’s commitment to providing flexible and accessible education to Nigerians.
Background
Graduates of conventional universities in Nigeria are required to participate in the NYSC scheme, a one-year programme designed to promote national unity and development.
However, NOUN graduates have long been excluded from the scheme, a development that has sparked persistent calls for policy reform.
The planned engagement between the NUC and NYSC could mark a significant shift, potentially ending years of exclusion and opening the scheme to thousands of qualified NOUN graduates.
