By Olayinka Iroye
The recent news of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reconsidering the admission and registration of under-16 candidates for the 2024/2025 academic session has been met with widespread applause. In a circular released by JAMB on October 16, 2024, this decision was seen as a compassionate move under the leadership of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. It reflects his humane and considerate nature, as well as his role as an Islamic scholar, in granting young students the opportunity to pursue higher education, at least for this session.
Many of these students had already sat for both the JAMB UTME and the post-UTME screening, passing both successfully. JAMB’s decision seems to have taken into account their effort and preparation, along with other factors. This action also challenges the common narrative that Prof. Oloyede is unyielding and difficult to persuade, as suggested by the phrase, “Oloyede ni agidi, ko ni gba, oun to ba fe se ni yi ose”—literally translating to “Oloyede is stubborn and will always do whatever he determines.”
Subsequent upon this positive development, I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to JAMB to extend similar compassionate consideration to another group of affected students—those who completed their National Diploma (ND) programme on part-time, but pursued their Higher National Diploma (HND) programme on full-time, but are being denied mobilization for National Youth Service (NYSC).
The institutions from which these students graduated have already faced significant disruptions due to this policy. Unrest, protests, and strikes were common occurrences at institutions like The Federal Polytechnic Offa, The Polytechnic Ibadan, and Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, to name a few. The affected students, in their frustration, disrupted both academic and administrative activities, creating an environment of unrest.
At the core of this issue is the non-mobilization of these HND graduates for NYSC, despite the fact that they completed their HND on a full-time basis. This unresolved issue continues to affect students who are now left in a difficult position. Many of these students, who fall within the age range of 21 to 24, were not informed at the time of their admission that they would be ineligible for NYSC mobilization due to their prior part-time ND status.
It should be noted that several factors led these students to enroll in part-time ND programme, including not meeting the cut-off mark for their desired courses or making late decisions to switch to Institutions . These students passed their JAMB UTME examination, and their decisions were not driven by a lack of qualifications. Yet, they are now faced with the harsh reality of receiving exclusion letters from the NYSC rather than their mobilisation for NYSC for the mandatory one year service to their fatherland.
The dilemma these students face is real and very pathetic. How can they explain to potential employers why they were issued an NYSC exemption certificate at such a young age, despite their academic achievements? Meanwhile, their peers who went through the traditional full-time route are already in the job market. This situation puts them at a significant disadvantage.
For many, the only options left are to either start their programme all over again or seek admission into a university—both of which mean wasted years, resources, and effort. This is an unjust outcome for students who entered the system without being adequately informed about the consequences.
On behalf of thousands of affected students, I appeal to JAMB and the relevant authorities to reconsider this policy. As a father figure and a role model, we trust that Prof. Oloyede and JAMB can find a solution that allows these students to be mobilized for NYSC, ensuring they are not punished for a situation beyond their control.
It is essential that any policy introduced by the government or its agencies is implemented with fairness and compassion. Those who find themselves caught in the web of such policies should not be made to suffer unnecessarily. Only those who knowingly violate the rules should face penalties because, as the saying goes, “to be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
May the course of education not fail in Nigeria.
Thank you for your consideration of this appeal.
