The Federal Government and the National Youth Service Corps have stepped up efforts to integrate education records digitally to end certificate racketeering and strengthen the verification of academic qualifications.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday during a meeting with the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, and senior officials of the Corps in Abuja.
Alausa said the reforms, being implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, were designed to close loopholes in the management and verification of academic records.
He said the Nigerian Education Repository Data Bank was already collecting and verifying university certificates, tracking learners and supporting tertiary institutions through designated help-desk officers.
He added that the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure would link records across different stages of a learner’s academic journey.
Alausa disclosed that the ministry has digitised its Education Support Services, including certificate verification and processes involving foreign applicants.
He said discussions were ongoing with the NYSC on an Application Programming Interface to enable faster verification and seamless exchange of relevant data.
According to him, the integration would address challenges that have prevented some qualified graduates from participating in the national service scheme and accessing employment opportunities.
He identified discrepancies in names, issues affecting part-time National Diploma graduates and the progression of National Certificate in Education holders to Higher National Diploma programmes among challenges requiring attention.
The minister said the ministry would work with the National Board for Technical Education, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, National Identity Management Commission and other stakeholders to develop lasting solutions.
He added that the proposed reforms included a national Learner Identification Number and a uniform framework for recording names across education and identity databases.
Alaisa said such measures, would establish accurate identity records from the start of a learner’s academic journey and reduce discrepancies later.
Also speaking, Nafiu commended the ministry’s reforms and pledged the Corps’ continued support.
He said the NYSC had pursued digitalisation since 2014 and developed systems to improve information management and deployment.
Nafiu added that the Corps had complied with the Federal Executive Council’s directive on collaboration with the Nigerian Education Repository Data Bank.
According to him, technology had strengthened the integrity of NYSC operations, with QR codes virtually eliminating document cloning.
The move comes amid intensified efforts by the Federal Government to tighten the authentication of credentials used for employment and NYSC mobilisation.
In September 2025, the government directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to use the National Credential Verification Service to authenticate the certificates of staff and new employees.
NERD authentication was subsequently incorporated into the NYSC mobilisation process. In March 2026, Alausa said prospective corps members would be required to authenticate their academic qualifications before registration.
The NYSC followed up in June, announcing plans to strictly enforce the requirement to prevent unqualified or fraudulent graduates from entering the scheme.
The concerns over fake credentials have featured in recent investigations.
In November 2025, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said about 15,000 candidates allegedly forged admission letters in an attempt to qualify for NYSC mobilisation.
Similarly the Federal Government panel investigating the credentials of former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, found in March 2026 that his University of Nigeria, Nsukka, degree certificate was forged. Questions were also raised over his NYSC certificate.
