As part of measures to strengthen and protect the sanctity of certificates issued by the nation’s tertiary institutions, especially those presented for the one-year mandatory NYSC scheme by eligible graduates, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), have agreed to streamline the process to ensure that no holder of fake degree certificate is mobilised for the exercise.
The renewed partnership is to enhance the integrity of the education system given the recent discoveries of unsavoury happenings by the Board.
In addition, the two agencies expressed their resolve to adopt stronger measures to curb certificate forgery as well as thwart the efforts of dubious graduates, who are hell-bent on getting themselves mobilised for the national youth service.
The Registrar, JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this shortly after a brainstorming session with the NYSC leadership at the NYSC National Secretariat Abuja recently.
He pointed out that the desperation by those, who are not eligible but want to serve in the scheme, brought about what he described as “NYSC s y n d r o m e “ through which unscrupulous candidates attempt to doctor their date of birth, through correction of names and other data, among others, with some even mobilisation adding that efforts are being made to fish out such nefarious characters. He al so stated that security operatives had been contracted to apprehend these fraudsters.
He, however, noted that a lasting solution would be made to amend the mobilisation requirements with a view to coming up with proactive steps to ensure that no fake certificate pass through the process. He, therefore, called for strategic collaboration to mitigate al l incidences of certificate forgery to safeguard the integrity of our institutions and the certificates issued by them.
The registrar expressed strong concern with the increasing spate of lawlessness in the system, which he said are aided by examination infractions. He cited the recent case of a 300 Level medical student from the University of Jos, who was killed by his classmates, who alleged that he had paid him money to bribe a technician in the institution to pass his examination but failed the examination when the result was released suspecting that his late classmate did not fulfill his part of the agreement. Prof Oloyede expressed concern over the new dimension examination malpractice is gradually taking saying this requires all efforts to address it.
In his remarks, the Director-General, NYSC, Bridg. Gen.Yusha’u Ahmed, commended JAMB under the leadership of Prof. Oloyede for its series of landmark achievements. He described the Board as a reliable and critical stakeholder, which contribution scans not be underestimated in national discourse.
Furthermore, he stated that the NYSC would not take anything for granted while expressing his readiness to partner with JAMB and expressed appreciation for the insights given. He further decried the menace of certificate forgery, which, according to him, was capable of compromising the noble objectives of the Corps.
He cited a particular incident in which a certain institution had complained that students, who did not graduate from the institution, were parading its name and matriculation numbers. He stated that based on the list presented by the institution, it was clear that some of the students had served and had collected their discharge certificate, others still serving while some did not bother to report for mobilisation.
He disclosed that such students would be made to face the consequences of their action even if they had completed their one-year service. In his concluding remarks, the DG, NYSC, expressed appreciation to the Board for the visit and said, “Your coming is an eye opener as we would, going forward, continue to protect the sanctity of our education system while upholding the mission and vision of the Corps.”