Ojo, Lagos — Education Minister Tunji Alausa has refuted claims that he proposed extending the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year from one year to two. Speaking during the 28th convocation lecture at Lagos State University (LASU) on Tuesday, Alausa clarified that his actual suggestion was to establish a “teacher corps” initiative, aimed at addressing Nigeria’s teacher shortage in rural areas while also bridging the unemployment gap for trained educators.
“I didn’t say NYSC should be extended for two years,” Alausa stated emphatically. “What I proposed was the formation of a teacher corps, with NYSC serving as the anchor, to tackle the urgent need for teachers in rural communities.”
The Minister’s remarks were made while delivering a lecture titled “Patriotism, Citizenship, and National Ownership: The Imperative of Collective Responsibility for Nigeria’s Future.” Alausa explained that the teacher corps would operate as a voluntary, optional service in which National Certificate of Education (NCE) holders would be engaged to teach in rural areas for two years, under the NYSC framework.
“The proposal I made to NYSC was to explore the possibility of forming a teacher corps, similar to initiatives in other parts of the world,” Alausa elaborated. “It is crucial to leverage the NYSC structure to address the growing issue of unemployment among trained NCE teachers, many of whom are without jobs despite being well-qualified.”
Alausa also pointed out the critical shortage of qualified teachers in rural areas, particularly in core subjects such as Mathematics, English, and the Sciences. He noted that while Nigeria has an oversupply of trained educators, many are unable to secure employment, especially in less urbanized regions.
“Today, we have more NCE teachers who are well-trained but are unable to find jobs,” he said. “Meanwhile, in rural communities, there is a severe shortage of teachers for key subjects. The teacher corps initiative would help fill that gap while also providing meaningful employment opportunities for our youth.”
In addition to his proposal for the teacher corps, Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship, revealing plans for a $10 million youth venture capital grant for university students. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster self-reliance among Nigeria’s youth.
The Minister also highlighted two major government plans aimed at improving the education sector: a N110 billion intervention for medical schools and a separate N80 billion investment to upgrade infrastructure in Unity Schools across the country.
During the event, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who chaired the convocation, emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to establish skill acquisition centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones would help graduates become more self-sufficient and economically empowered.
LASU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, also commended the Federal Government’s initiative, particularly for the return of History teaching to the school curriculum, which she praised as a step toward reviving the nation’s educational heritage.
As Nigeria’s education sector continues to evolve, Alausa’s remarks underscore the pressing need for innovative solutions to address both employment and educational deficits across the country.