Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC

HND graduates with part-time National Diploma backgrounds staged a protest on Monday at the Lagos NYSC secretariat, decrying a proposed policy barring them from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” called for an immediate reversal of the policy as Batch C Stream II registration commenced.

Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory, noting it unfairly penalises those who switched from part-time National Diploma (ND) programmes to full-time HND studies.

“Many of us struggled through our ND on part-time, only to face exclusion now. We hope our peaceful protest sparks a dialogue,” Temitope said. He urged the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.

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The protesters claimed to have written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, without receiving a response.

Adebola Osunfunrewa, from the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the proposed exclusion, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.

“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” he queried.

Responding to the protest, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates their concerns had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General.

“The director general is reviewing the matter and is committed to addressing your grievances within policy guidelines,” Itohan stated, urging protesters to remain calm.

The outcome of the deliberations remains awaited as the mobilisation process continues.

Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC

Bode George rejects Old Students move to take over King’s College

FORMER Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  Bode George, yesterday, faulted the decision of some alumni of King’s College in Lagos State to take over the school’s administration.

Last week, some notable elders from Lagos State visited President Bola Tinubu to discuss their intention to take over the school.

Bode George, however, countered the move, saying the elders failed to use the opportunity to draw the President’s attention to the plights of Nigerians.

According to him, the elders also failed to draw the President’s attention to the worsening socio-economic conditions in Lagos State.

His words: “The visiting elders from Lagos also missed the golden opportunity to demonstrate to the president the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the teeming youth population in the state, who are unemployed and economically stranded in their hundreds of thousands. They should have advocated for programmes aimed at lifting these individuals out of poverty through skills acquisition, to curtail the nefarious activities associated with social vices that have become prevalent across the state.

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“Additionally, issues concerning the rehabilitation of roads in the outskirts of Lagos, such as the Lagos-Abeokuta Express Road and Mile 2-Badagry Road, should have been a matter of urgent concern for the elders. To say the truth, the general state of infrastructure in Lagos is appalling, with an attendant lack of social amenities like public toilets.

“Instead of discussing these urgent state and national issues, I was told some of these elders, who are old students of the prestigious King’s College in Lagos, told the President they wanted to take over the school. They even made the President an Honorary member of their Old Students’ Association, somebody who did not attend the school.

“Nigerians know the story and history behind King’s College, a Federal Government school.” How do these elders even think the government will hand over the school to them to run as a private enterprise? How do they intend to run the school?

What is the blueprint? What are their education plans? Will old students of Queen’s College also ask for a similar favour from the president? What of old students of AIONIAN Schools? Will they make the same request? Is this distraction what we need now?

“What I believe they should do is to ask the Federal Ministry of Education and the management of the school where they can intervene to continue to project the image of the school and help the students.

UNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates

The University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, in Kwara, says it has introduced a system where unclaimed certificates could be collected through courier service.

Mansur Alfanla, the Registrar of the university, who spoke with newsmen on Monday in Ilorin, described the move as upgrading to international best practices.

According to him, this move will allow prospective collectors to receive their certificates through courier delivery.

“This is a departure from the university’s previous policy of not allowing third-party collection.

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“To collect their certificates, interested individuals are required to submit the original statement of result, court affidavit, indemnity form and valid international passport (for applicants in the diaspora).

“For those who prefer physical collection, it has been arranged for collection to take place at the university from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m, every Monday to Friday.

“This development is expected to bring convenience to graduates and alumni of the university, especially those residing outside the country,” he said.

The registrar, in a memo dated December 18, advised all graduates of the university to collect their certificates before January 17, 2025.

The memo stated that graduates who failed to collect their certificates before the deadline, would pay a fine of ₦3,000 per week before collection of the certificate.

UNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates

NAN