If you are a polytechnic graduate in Nigeria, you might be wondering if you can participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program. The answer is yes, but there are some conditions that you need to meet.
The NYSC is a one-year mandatory service scheme for Nigerian graduates who are below 30 years of age at the time of graduation. The aim of the program is to foster national unity and development among Nigerian youths.
The program involves three phases: orientation camp, primary assignment and passing out parade. During the orientation camp, corps members are trained on various skills and disciplines and assigned to different states of the federation.
During the primary assignment, corps members are expected to contribute to the development of their host communities and organizations. During the passing out parade, corps members are awarded certificates of national service and discharged from the program.
But not all Nigerian graduates are eligible for NYSC. There are some criteria that you need to meet in order to be mobilized for service. One of them is your level and mode of study.
As a polytechnic graduate, you need to have completed your Higher National Diploma (HND) on a full-time basis in order to be eligible for NYSC. The HND is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree and it takes four years to complete after obtaining your Ordinary National Diploma (OND).
The OND is the first qualification that you get as a polytechnic student and it takes two years to complete. You can either pursue your OND on a full-time or part-time basis. However, if you choose to study on a part-time basis, you will not be eligible for NYSC even if you proceed to the HND level.
This is because part-time students are not considered as regular students by the NYSC and they do not have matriculation numbers. Therefore, they cannot be verified by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which is responsible for mobilizing graduates for service.
So, if you want to serve your nation through the NYSC program as a polytechnic graduate, you need to ensure that you enroll in a full-time HND program after completing your OND. This way, you will have a valid matriculation number and a recognized qualification that will qualify you for service.
However, if you decide to further your education at a university after completing your OND, you can also be eligible for NYSC as long as you gain direct entry admission and complete your Bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis.
In summary, polytechnic graduates do go to NYSC as long as they have completed their HND on a full-time basis or have obtained direct entry admission to a university and completed their Bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis. If you meet these criteria, you can expect to be among the corps members serving during your graduation year, assuming all other requirements are met.
