Nigeria wants to test foreign graduates before national service
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
Illustrative image · Adedire Abiodun · Pexels · Licence PexelsNigeria's education ministry is considering imposing an assessment test on graduates of foreign universities, especially African ones, before their mobilisation for the NYSC national service. The measure aims to verify the real value of the qualifications presented, Folake Olatunji-David explained in Abuja.
Nigeria is considering introducing an assessment test for Nigerians holding degrees obtained abroad, particularly in African countries, before their qualifications are validated for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the compulsory national service for young graduates. The proposal was presented by Folake Olatunji-David, acting permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, at the 37th meeting of the National Standing Committee on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications on Monday in Abuja.
According to her, the test aims to ensure that the foreign qualifications presented by Nigerians correspond to genuine achievements and to the required academic level. Folake Olatunji-David invited the committee to examine the measure, judging that the growing number of Nigerians enrolled in foreign higher institutions, particularly in West Africa, makes the check more necessary.
The acting permanent secretary also raised concerns about the proliferation of fake Nigerian and foreign degrees. She said the ministry had made progress in verifying the accreditation status of foreign institutions, issuing certificates for NYSC mobilisation, authenticating certificates and issuing letters of non-objection.
