NYSC stands for National Youth Service Corps, a program in Nigeria that aims to foster national unity and development among young graduates. It is mandatory for Nigerian citizens who have completed a minimum of Higher National Diploma (HND) or Bachelor’s Degree from accredited institutions.
But what if you don’t have a degree? Can you still participate in NYSC and enjoy its benefits? The answer is not straightforward, as there are some exceptions and conditions that may apply.
First of all, you need to understand the eligibility criteria for NYSC. According to the official website, you must:
- Be a Nigerian citizen by birth or naturalization.
- Have completed a full course of study at a tertiary institution within or outside Nigeria.
- Have obtained a degree or HND certificate from an accredited institution.
- Have been discharged or exempted from the National Service by the NYSC Directorate Headquarters.
- Be physically and mentally fit to participate in the program.
If you meet these requirements, you can register for NYSC online and upload your documents for verification. You will then be mobilized to a state of your choice for orientation and service.
However, if you don’t have a degree or HND certificate, you may still be able to do NYSC under certain circumstances. These include:
- If you have a professional qualification that is equivalent to a degree or HND, such as ICAN, ACCA, CIBN, etc. You will need to provide evidence of your membership and certification from the relevant professional body.
- If you have completed a diploma program from a recognized institution, such as polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education, etc. You will need to provide your diploma certificate and transcript as proof of your qualification.
- If you have enrolled in a part-time or sandwich program that leads to a degree or HND award. You will need to complete your program and obtain your certificate before you can apply for NYSC.
- If you have deferred your admission or graduation due to personal or academic reasons. You will need to resume your studies and graduate before you can register for NYSC.
In summary, you cannot do NYSC without a degree or HND unless you have an equivalent qualification, a diploma, or are currently enrolled in a degree or HND program. If you fall into any of these categories, you may be able to join the NYSC scheme and serve your country.
However, if you don’t have any of these qualifications and are not pursuing any, then you are not eligible for NYSC. You will need to acquire a degree or HND from an accredited institution before you can apply for the program.
We hope this article has answered your question and clarified the requirements for NYSC. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!
