An investigation by Saturday PUNCH has uncovered how blacklisted universities in the Benin Republic are working with some Nigerian private polytechnics to illegally mobilise their graduates for the National Youth Service Corps by issuing fake HND certificates for a fee.
Some blacklisted universities in the Benin Republic have devised new methods of sneaking their graduates into the National Youth Service Corps in connivance with certain private polytechnics in Nigeria, Saturday PUNCH has uncovered.
Findings showed that the universities obtain National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certificates for their students through these polytechnics after paying as much as ₦400,000. The polytechnics then use the certificates to mobilise the graduates for NYSC.
A graduate of Esfam-Benin University, Seun, said his school forwarded his records to a Nigerian polytechnic for processing. “Our names and certificates have already been processed with the polytechnic. Once one has money, you can get a Benin Republic certificate, then take it to a Nigerian polytechnic and get a new one that allows you to go for NYSC,” he said.
Another graduate confirmed that a “key member” of his school arranged links with a private polytechnic for NYSC mobilisation.
Documents obtained by Saturday PUNCH showed that names and grades of Benin graduates were inserted into a Nigerian polytechnic’s mobilisation list.
However, officials of the Ministry of Education and the NYSC denied any knowledge of the scheme. The ministry’s spokesperson, Folashade Omoboriowo, insisted, “We have digitalised our operations and such fraud cannot take place.”
Similarly, NYSC spokesperson, Carol Embu, said, “Foreign graduates are cleared by the Ministry of Education. We are not aware of this.”
Education authorities have vowed to investigate and sanction any institution found complicit in the fraudulent scheme.