By Otitoju Femi and Bamidele Eleniola
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti has cautioned its prospective corps members (PCMs) against mistakes during the National Youth Service Corps registration process, warning that errors in personal records and failure to comply with mobilisation guidelines could jeopardise their participation in the mandatory national service.
The warning was given on Friday, July 10, 2026, during a pre-mobilisation sensitisation programme organised by the university’s Directorate of Students Affairs and Support Services at the Ndoma-Egba Hall. The event drew a large gathering of final-year students, university officials, and representatives of the NYSC from the National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the programme, the Dean of Students Affairs and Support Services, Prof. Temitope Babalola, said the sensitisation was aimed at adequately preparing prospective corps members for the one-year national youth service and equipping them with accurate information before registration.
Recalling his own experience as a corps member in Kogi State, Prof. Babalola noted that the NYSC scheme had witnessed remarkable improvements over the years.
“I served in Kogi State some years ago. NYSC has changed, and it is getting better. During our time, everything was done manually, including our monthly clearance. But today, everything has been digitalized Then, we were paid six thousand naira only. The federal government is now paying up to seventy thousand naira. That is to tell you that everything has improved,” he said.
Describing the NYSC as one of Nigeria’s most enduring institutions, the father of students urged the prospective corps members to pay close attention to every stage of the registration process, noting that virtually all the information they required would be available on the NYSC portal.
He advised the PCMs to follow official instructions meticulously to avoid mistakes that could affect their mobilisation and wished them a successful service year.
The lead resource person, Dr Jane Nweke Obiageri, Mobilization and Deployment Officer at the NYSC Secretariat in Ekiti State, described the programme as an important platform for prospective corps members, (PCMs), to engage directly with NYSC officials and obtain authentic information about the scheme.
“This sensitisation gives prospective corps members the opportunity to interact directly with NYSC officials, ask questions and obtain accurate information that will guide them through the mobilisation process,” she said.
She traced the history of the NYSC to its establishment through Decree No. 24 of May 22, 1973, by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon, explaining that the scheme was introduced after the Nigerian Civil War to foster national unity, reconciliation and integration.
“The NYSC was established after the Civil War to promote national unity, reconciliation and integration among Nigerians. Since then, it has remained a vital instrument for national development by deploying graduates to different parts of the country to contribute to sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development,” she said.
Dr Nweke said the objectives of the scheme include promoting patriotism, national integration, cultural understanding, leadership development and community service.
She added that only Nigerian graduates of accredited universities and polytechnics who satisfy the prescribed requirements and are duly mobilised by their institutions are eligible for national service.
She advised the prospective corps members against attempting to influence their posting, stressing that special considerations are only granted to married women, pregnant women, single nursing mothers and persons with certified medical conditions.
“Do not attempt to influence your posting. The NYSC only grants special posting considerations to married women, pregnant women, single nursing mothers and persons with certified medical conditions. Every prospective corps member must also dress appropriately during registration and comply strictly with all official guidelines,” she further said.
Also speaking at the event, the head of ICT, Mr Adebayo Kayode, warned students to pay particular attention to the arrangement of their names and other personal information during registration.
“Many prospective corps members encounter avoidable problems because of errors in their names and graduation details. A discrepancy in your surname, first name, middle name or date of graduation can prevent you from completing registration at the orientation camp or even affect your banking documentation,” he said.
Adebayo also cautioned the students against leaving their registration entirely in the hands of cybercafé operators. “This is not done by proxy”, the ICT expert stressed.
“Do not hand over your details to a café operator and simply walk away. Some operators make mistakes by uploading another person’s photograph or fingerprint. Such errors may create serious problems during documentation at the orientation camp,” he warned.
He advised prospective corps members to register with their personal and functional email addresses, recommending Gmail for its ease of use, while urging them to verify every detail before submitting their registration forms.
Speaking on service obligations, Mr Kayode Adebayo reminded the students that monthly clearance remained compulsory throughout the service year.
“If you miss monthly clearance for three consecutive months, you may be redeployed and required to refund the allowances already paid to you. It is a situation every corps member should avoid,” he further warned.
He also alerted the prospective corps members to beware of fraudsters, stressing that all NYSC mobilisation processes and official services are free of charge.
He further advised the students to nominate reliable family members or trusted relatives as their next of kin rather than boyfriends or girlfriends, noting that such information could become critical in emergencies.
In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Registrar and Students’ Affairs Officer, Mr. Oloruntele Raphael Olarewaju, expressed appreciation to the NYSC team for their insightful and educative lectures during the pre-mobilization programme.
He also thanked the Management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) for its unwavering support towards the successful hosting of the programme.
Mr. Olarewaju further appreciated the Dean, members of the University Management, staff, and all participants who took time to grace the occasion, noting that their presence contributed immensely to the success of the event.
Photo credit: Bamidele Eleniola
