Over 100 Unqualified Graduates Reported to NYSC in 2023 –UNICAL

In 2023, the University of Calabar (UNICAL) reported a total of 178 graduates who did not meet the qualifications for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The University of Calabar has praised the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for disclosing the identities of 93 individuals who were improperly mobilized for the one-year National Youth Service Scheme, following a complaint filed by the university in 2023.

Mr. Gabriel Egbe, the Registrar of the University, issued a statement on Wednesday, indicating that it was the university's administration that uncovered this fraudulent activity and alerted the NYSC and other relevant bodies, rather than the reverse. The university views the NYSC's actions as a significant measure in combating criminal impunity and desperation.

While acknowledging the Corps for this initiative, it is essential to clarify the details surrounding the unusual incident of unauthorized names infiltrating our university's portal for exemption from and participation in national service.

It is important to emphasize that the University Management was the entity that revealed this criminal behavior and notified the NYSC and other organizations, not the other way around.

In September 2023, internal sources informed us that an individual who had not completed their studies was falsely claiming to be on national service from our institution.

 

“We quickly launched an investigation which confirmed the allegation and revealed 10 more cases of infiltration of the NYSC portal.

“Arising from this report, we wrote on 4th October 2023 to NYSC appealing that those 11 persons involved be apprehended and prosecuted.

In response to our commitment to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, the NYSC issued a statement on October 24^th.

“On the 31st of October, the University wrote to ICPC Uyo Resident Office inviting the agency to wade into the matter.

“Though management had agreed to work quietly with NYSC and security agencies to apprehend the culprits, we had to set up a full-scale investigative committee due to unfolding events.

“The committee concluded its work on the 18th of December, 2023. Meanwhile, NYSC was notified on the 5th of November of the committee.

“The investigation revealed a staggering 167 new cases of criminal infiltration of the portal, making a total of 178 persons.

“We wish to state, as contained in the report, that the names involved were not found in the records of the university as having graduated.

“The records include Senate Approved Results (SAR), summary list (for printing of certificates), and master list (in NYSC format for upload), all presented by respective departments.

“Categorically, the names were not presented by the departments and were not uploaded on the portal, hence they are not found in the hard copies printed from that portal and presented to NYSC in pre-mobilisation workshops.

“In other words, these unqualified people were not mobilized by the university, as a matter of fact; but were somehow smuggled into the portal, from where we do not know.

“Not having these names in our graduation or mobilization list means that their certificates purportedly from our university are also fake.

”The investigation necessitated the suspension of the Data Entry Officer, Mr. Obi Obi Endurance who is being investigated by ICPC.

In order to uphold the university’s reputation, management, and academic excellence, a letter was dispatched to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on February 1, 2024. The letter was duly received on February 6, 2024.

“It contained the findings and recommendations of the investigation with all details of the 178 names, stating their suspicious matriculation numbers and departments.

“The same letter was forwarded to ICPC, Abuja office, Federal Ministry of Education and NUC urging those agencies and organizations to assist the university in investigating further, apprehend and deal with the culprits accordingly.

“This necessitated the Vice-Chancellor of the University visiting and engaging the NYSC Director-General on this matter. A meeting was held with the D-G and the Directors to unravel how these names were mobilized.

“Management of the university wishes to assure the general public and especially our esteemed Alumni that the University of Calabar remains committed to maintaining the culture of excellence that this administration has fought hard to enthrone since 2021 despite the odds.

The corps' release is a result of the aforementioned events. Referencing the University of Calabar in this context should not detract from the remarkable accomplishments already achieved by the current university administration in its comprehensive efforts to enhance efficiency.

“We share the confidence that, in the same patriotic spirit of exposing these 93 names as we had urged, NYSC would equally issue a release about the remaining 85 persons out of the 178 reported by the University without any prompting,” It stated.