Union Denies Claims By NANS Niger Republic On NYSC Exclusion

The Union of Concerned Academias (UCA) has described as misleading the claims by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Niger Republic Chapter, alleging that some of its members were unfairly denied participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme despite approval by the authorities of Niger Republic.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Dr Ayanlola Ayanyimika, the chairman UCA, said the institutions being defended by NANS, Niger Republic Chapter do not possess accreditation or official recognition from the National Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education in Niger Republic, which remains the legally mandated body responsible for regulating higher education institutions within that country.

The union stated that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had previously clamped down on the illegal operations of some Niger Republic–based institutions that established unauthorised satellite campuses in Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria.

“These operations constituted a clear and unacceptable violation of Nigeria’s regulatory framework governing higher education, which strictly prohibits foreign universities from operating unauthorized campuses within Nigerian territory.

“ Nigeria’s education system must not and will not become a dumping ground for unaccredited academic qualifications”, Dr Ayanlola Ayanyimika said.