By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has advocated for extension of the service year of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to two years.
The Minister also hailed the scheme for the digitalized process that has helped in curbing certificate racketeering involving some foreign trained graduates within West Africa.
Remarking on Friday when the new DG of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, the minister also spoke on the lingering issue of OND part-time graduates with full-time HND who were previously exempted from National Service.
The Minister particularly advocated “for the extension of national service from one to two years, with the expansion of NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Training programme content for Corps Members.”
“You have done so well as an organization. Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, on his part, General Nafiu lauded the minister, saying he has been innovative and has achieved giant strides in the education sector.
He called for the establishment of a database of Nigerian youths going abroad for degree programmes
“NYSC is ready to comply with policy guidelines as directed by the Federal Government. We are also trying to reform the Scheme to conform with the present national needs,” the scheme DG added.