FG, NYSC partner on digital integration to end certificate racketeering

The Federal Government is collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps to modernize education records and combat certificate fraud, according to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. This digital integration aims to verify qualifications, eliminate loopholes, and prevent genuine graduates from being unfairly denied opportunities.

The reforms align with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. The Nigerian Education Repository Data Bank, run by the ministry, is collecting and verifying university certificates, tracking students, and supporting tertiary institutions. The ministry is also digitizing its Education Support Services, including certificate verification and foreign applicant processes.

Discussions are ongoing to establish an application programming interface that will streamline data exchange between the NYSC and the ministry. The reforms aim to address challenges such as discrepancies in names, issues affecting part-time National Diploma graduates, and the admission of National Certificate in Education holders into Higher National Diploma programs.

The government is also implementing a national Learner Identification Number and a consistent framework for recording and sequencing names across education and identity databases to establish accurate identity records from the start of a learner's educational journey. The move comes as part of efforts to tighten the authentication of academic credentials for employment and national service.