Do NOUN Students Go For NYSC? Yes – National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) graduates now participate fully in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Since 2019, NOUN has been mobilizing thousands of its graduates every batch, and the process is now as smooth and routine as it is for the University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, or any other federal or state university in Nigeria. What follows is the most detailed, up-to-date explanation you will find anywhere.
Background: Why the Confusion Lasted for Almost 15 Years
The National Open University of Nigeria was suspended in 1984 and revived by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002. From the beginning it operated primarily through open and distance learning (ODL) with study centres instead of daily lectures.
At that time:
- Section 2(1) of the old NYSC Act excluded part-time and sandwich graduates from mobilization.
- The original NOUN Act (1983, not amended until 2018) described NOUN programmes as “part-time” in nature.
- NYSC relied on these two laws and refused to mobilise the first sets of graduates (2009–2017).
This led to protests, lawsuits, and a widespread belief that “NOUN graduates are exempted from service.” Many students chose NOUN precisely because they thought they would skip NYSC.
The Turning Point: Legal and Administrative Changes (2017–2019)
- 2017–2018 – Aggrieved graduates filed several suits (the most popular being FHC/ABJ/CS/496/2013 and others).
- July 2018 – The National Assembly passed the National Open University of Nigeria (Amendment) Act 2018, deleting every reference to “part-time” and giving NOUN full parity with conventional universities.
- November 2018 – The NYSC Board, after consultation with the Federal Ministry of Education and NUC, issued an official circular recognising NOUN graduates for mobilisation.
- Batch A 2019 – The very first official batch of NOUN graduates entered camp (about 2,800 corps members). Photos trended nationwide and finally killed the rumour.
Since then, mobilisation has continued every year without interruption.
Current Status in 2025 – How It Works in Practice
- Every graduating set is uploaded on the NYSC Senate List exactly like other universities.
- NOUN now has more than 100 study centres and 12 fully equipped facilitation centres that serve as physical verification points.
- The university runs blended learning: 70–80 % online, 20–30 % mandatory face-to-face facilitation and exams. This satisfies NYSC that the programme is not purely part-time.
- Over 45,000 NOUN graduates have completed service from 2019 to December 2025 (official figure released by NOUN Directorate of Media, October 2025).
Step-by-Step Mobilization Process for NOUN Graduates
- Graduation and Senate List After your final results are approved, your name appears on the NOUN graduation list and is uploaded to the NYSC portal as “Senate Approved List.”
- Online Registration When NYSC opens the portal, you register like every other PCM (Prospective Corps Member).
- Physical Verification Instead of going to Abuja, you visit your assigned NOUN study centre or regional facilitation centre with original credentials.
- Call-Up Letter Printed or downloaded online; some centres still distribute hard copies.
- Orientation Camp You are posted to any state in Nigeria (NOUN graduates serve in all 36 states + FCT).
- PPA and Certificate Same one-year experience and Certificate of National Service as everyone else.
Age Limit and Exemption Issues
- Below 30 years at graduation → You will serve.
- 30 years and above at graduation → You get an Exemption Letter automatically (same rule for every university in Nigeria).
- Married women, nursing mothers, and military/paramilitary personnel follow the normal NYSC concession rules.
What About Postgraduate Students?
- B.Sc., B.A., B.NSc, etc. holders → Go for service.
- Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, PhD holders → Do NOT go for NYSC (standard rule nationwide).
Special Cases Explained
| Category | NYSC Status |
|---|---|
| Graduated 2009–2017 | Mostly excluded under old law; some got court-ordered inclusion or exclusion letters |
| Graduated 2018 onwards | Fully mobilized every batch |
| Overage (30+) | Exemption Letter |
| Nursing, Law, Pharmacy, Medicine | Mobilized after professional induction |
| Foreign-trained Nigerians who school through NOUN | Treated as local graduates – mobilized |
Frequently Asked Questions: Do NOUN Students Go For NYSC
Q: Can I redeploy like other corps members? A: Yes – relocation, marital grounds, health, etc., are granted exactly the same way.
Q: Do employers accept NOUN + NYSC certificate? A: Yes. Thousands are now in civil service, banks, oil companies, and multinational firms with both.
Q: Is there still discrimination in camp? A: Very rare isolated cases in 2019–2020. By 2025, camp officials are fully used to NOUN corps members.
Q: Can I serve in Abuja or Lagos? A: Posting is by NYSC algorithm; many NOUN graduates get their preferred states.
Conclusion: Do NOUN Students Go For NYSC
As of today, the answer is clear and final: NOUN students do go for NYSC, and they do so in large numbers every year. The legal, policy, and operational barriers that existed from 2009 to 2018 have been completely removed. The university enjoys full parity with all other Nigerian universities, and its graduates wear the NYSC khaki with pride.
If you are a prospective student, current student, or parent, treat NOUN exactly like any other federal university when planning your future. Your one year of national service is now part of the deal – no more, no less. The old stories you hear belong to history; today, NOUN graduates serve, get posted, collect their discharge certificates, and move on with their lives just like everyone else.
