NYSC: Nigerian Graduates Stranded as JAMB Withholds Admission Validation

A growing number of Nigerian graduates are trapped in frustration and uncertainty as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) delays the validation of their admissions—an essential requirement for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Without this validation, many are unable to proceed with their service year, blocking a critical step in their academic and professional journey.

This ongoing challenge stems from the admission regularization process. It is meant for students who were admitted into higher institutions without a valid JAMB admission letter—often due to direct entry, pre-degree, or remedial admissions. Regularization ensures that such candidates are properly documented within JAMB’s official records, allowing them to qualify for NYSC mobilization and, in some cases, employment.

For many like Loveth Adam, a graduate of Anatomy from Ambrose Alli University in Edo State, the wait has been both painful and costly. She gained admission in 2018 and hoped to graduate by 2022, but delays caused by COVID-19 and the ASUU strike pushed her graduation to 2023. When it was time to process her NYSC registration, she discovered she didn’t have a valid JAMB admission letter.

Loveth visited the JAMB office in Benin City in January 2024 to begin her regularization, but was turned away. Officials told her to return after new UTME candidates had completed their registration. She’s now stuck—unable to proceed with NYSC or secure jobs that require a certificate of service.

Her story is not unique. Across Nigeria, many graduates are being forced to wait or spend huge amounts of money—sometimes up to ₦80,000—on middlemen who claim to have “connections” in JAMB. These individuals promise to fast-track the regularization process, but often add to the burden already weighing down young graduates.

The delay is more than an inconvenience. For many, NYSC is a gateway to employment and professional experience. Without it, dreams are placed on hold. Opportunities are lost. And in a country already battling youth unemployment, the emotional toll is heavy.

Education stakeholders are now calling for urgent reforms. There is a strong demand for JAMB to streamline the regularization process and prioritize those who need admission validation. Clear communication, digital tracking systems, and a faster approval process could go a long way in resolving this issue.

For now, thousands of Nigerian graduates continue to wait—hoping that the system will not fail them any further. Their future depends on more than just a certificate; it depends on the fairness and efficiency of the institutions meant to support them.