The Federal Government has introduced a new requirement mandating all graduates seeking mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to submit copies of their academic thesis or final-year research projects as part of the clearance process.
According to a circular issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the policy takes effect from the 2025 Batch A mobilisation exercise and applies to both Nigerian and foreign-trained graduates.
The government explained that the measure is aimed at strengthening the country’s academic database, curbing certificate racketeering, and promoting a culture of research integrity.
>Submission of undergraduate or postgraduate thesis is now a compulsory condition for NYSC mobilisation. This will serve as a verification tool, ensure graduates have met academic requirements, and enrich the national research repository,” the statement read.
The policy, developed in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), the NYSC Directorate, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is also expected to enhance access to local research materials for innovation and policymaking.
Reacting to the development, the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, said the move would discourage academic malpractice and ensure that only duly qualified graduates are mobilised.
Some students and stakeholders, however, expressed mixed feelings. While educationists welcomed the initiative as a step towards boosting the value of academic research, others raised concerns about potential bureaucratic delays and the readiness of institutions to implement the new system.
Analysts say the policy could become a game changer for Nigeria’s knowledge economy if effectively executed, but caution that adequate digital infrastructure must be provided to prevent bottlenecks.
