Education minister hails NYSC for using tech to fight fraud

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has commended the National Youth Service Corps for deploying technology and digital innovations to curb fraudulent activities and improve the efficiency of its operations.

Alausa gave the commendation when the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, according to a post on the scheme’s X handle on Wednesday.

The minister particularly praised the NYSC leadership for the transformation recorded by the scheme, especially its adoption of technology in the registration and deployment of corps members.

“I would like to commend you for all the transformation that you have brought to NYSC and the use of technology to ensure seamless operations and deployment of Corps Members,” he said.

Alausa recalled that the NYSC’s decision to embrace technology in its registration process initially faced resistance from some sections of the public but noted that the digitisation had significantly improved the process.

The NYSC Director-General told the minister that the scheme had strengthened the security features of corps members’ call-up and posting letters following attempts by fraudsters to clone the documents and issue fake letters to prospective employers while extorting money from unsuspecting corps members.

Nafiu said the enhanced security measures had made the letters more resistant to manipulation, adding that employers could easily verify their authenticity.

He also disclosed that a joint committee comprising officials of the NYSC and the Federal Ministry of Education had been constituted to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions.

According to him, the committee would also ensure that only qualified and eligible Nigerian graduates participate in the National Youth Service Corps.