The Federal Government has directed that all graduates seeking mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must henceforth submit copies of their academic thesis or final-year projects as part of the registration process. The new policy, announced on Monday, is aimed at curbing academic fraud and strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education system.
According to the directive, graduates from universities and polytechnics will be required to upload their approved theses or dissertations on a centralised platform before being cleared for participation in the one-year national service. The government explained that the measure would help authenticate academic qualifications, discourage plagiarism, and provide a national repository for scholarly work.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the NYSC Directorate, stated that the initiative was developed after consultations with stakeholders in the academic and youth development sectors. Officials noted that the submission of final-year projects would not only promote accountability but also allow the government to track the quality and relevance of research being carried out in tertiary institutions.
Speaking on the policy, an NYSC official said the requirement is part of broader reforms to align Nigeria’s graduate mobilisation process with global best practices. He stressed that the system would be digitised to ensure seamless submission and verification, adding that students who fail to comply may face delays or outright disqualification from service.
Reactions to the policy have been mixed. While some education experts welcomed the move as a step towards safeguarding academic integrity, others expressed concerns about the capacity of institutions and graduates to adapt to the new requirement. Critics argue that poor internet infrastructure, technical challenges, and bureaucratic bottlenecks could frustrate the implementation of the directive.
Student groups have also called on the government to ensure that the process does not become an additional burden for graduates already grappling with high costs of clearance and mobilisation. They urged authorities to provide clear guidelines and adequate support systems to make compliance easier for prospective corps members.
The Federal Government, however, insists that the long-term benefits of the policy outweigh the challenges, noting that it would enhance both the academic reputation of Nigerian institutions and the credibility of the NYSC scheme. Implementation is expected to commence with the next mobilisation exercise, with further details to be issued by the NYSC in the coming weeks.
