The Federal Government has finally approved the long-awaited National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization for all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates across Nigeria. This landmark decision was announced following a meeting between the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu, and the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, as reported by the Vanguard Newspaper on March 21, 2025.
For years, thousands of HND graduates have been denied the opportunity to participate in the one-year national service program, despite completing full-time programs in accredited polytechnics. This new development brings relief and renewed hope to those who had begun to lose confidence in the fairness of Nigeria’s education and service systems.
According to the statement, the Federal Government has directed the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to begin uploading the data of all eligible full-time HND graduates into a central admission system. This move is aimed at creating an accurate and verifiable database to ease the mobilization process and prevent discrepancies that have previously hindered HND graduates from being enlisted.
The new portal, which is already live, will serve as a direct platform through which NYSC can verify and mobilize only those who completed full-time, approved HND programs. NBTE has also instructed all polytechnic rectors across the country to upload their graduate records promptly and accurately.
This approval is a major win for equity and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. It sends a strong message that graduates from polytechnics should not be treated as second-class citizens in comparison to their university counterparts.
Stakeholders, educationists, and students have widely welcomed the decision, calling it “a bold and long-overdue step toward ending academic discrimination”. Many former HND students have expressed their gratitude to the government for finally listening to their cry.
As of now, no specific timeline has been announced for when these graduates will begin their service, but preparations are already in motion. All affected HND graduates are advised to contact their institutions and stay updated through official NYSC and NBTE channels.
This marks a significant shift in policy and is expected to pave the way for more reforms in how technical and vocational education is recognized in Nigeria. It’s not just a victory for HND graduates — it’s a victory for fairness and national unity.