Does NOUN Student Go For NYSC? Yes, students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) are now fully eligible to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, just like graduates from conventional universities in Nigeria. This eligibility became effective after years of exclusion and legal battles, with the final breakthrough coming through the NYSC Amendment Act signed into law in 2023 and fully implemented from the 2024 Batch A orientation course onwards. If you graduated from NOUN on or after 2017 (when the university first got full accreditation for most programmes), you will be mobilized for NYSC once you meet the normal requirements.
Below is a clear breakdown of everything you need to know.
A Brief History of NOUN and NYSC Exclusion: Does NOUN Student Go For NYSC
When NOUN was re-established in 2002, it operated mainly through distance and open learning. At that time, the NYSC Act (2004) excluded part-time, sandwich, and distance learning graduates from compulsory service. Because NOUN was classified under open and distance learning (ODL), its graduates were automatically exempted and issued exclusion letters instead of call-up letters.
This affected thousands of students for almost two decades. Many NOUN graduates felt disadvantaged in the labour market, especially for jobs that required evidence of NYSC discharge certificate.
The Turning Point: Court Cases and Law Amendment
The game changed in 2022 when seven NOUN graduates dragged the federal government and NYSC to court. In a landmark judgment delivered in June 2022 by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, the court ruled that excluding NOUN graduates from NYSC was discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Following the judgment, the National Assembly fast-tracked the amendment of the NYSC Act. President Muhammadu Buhari signed the NYSC Act (Amendment) Bill into law in April 2023, removing the discrimination against part-time and distance learning graduates, provided the institution is approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Current Status (2024–2025 and Beyond)
As of today, NOUN graduates are mobilized in every batch:
- The first set was mobilized in 2024 Batch A Stream I.
- Subsequent batches have all included NOUN graduates.
- NOUN now has full NUC accreditation for over 90% of its programmes, including Law (which got accreditation in 2023 and its graduates are now also mobilized).
To be mobilized, you must:
- Be below 30 years at the time of graduation (same rule applies to all Nigerian graduates).
- Have completed your programme and collected your statement of result or certificate.
- Register on the NYSC portal during the Senate list upload period for your set.
Programmes That Are Mobilized and Those Still Excluded
Most NOUN undergraduate and postgraduate diploma programmes are now mobilized. However:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) graduates are still issued exclusion letters because the programme is considered part-time by NYSC policy.
- A few newly introduced programmes awaiting full NUC accreditation may still be excluded until accreditation is granted.
Always check the official NYSC Senate list for your set to confirm your name.
How NOUN Graduates Are Treated During Service
NOUN corps members wear the same khaki, attend the same three-week orientation camp, and serve for the full one year, just like their counterparts from UNILAG, UI, ABU, or any other university. There is no longer any difference in treatment.
Many have already completed service and collected their discharge certificates, which are now widely accepted for employment and further studies.
Conclusion: Does NOUN Student Go For NYSC
The long struggle is finally over. If you are a current or prospective NOUN student who is below 30 years old at graduation, you will definitely go for NYSC, provided your programme is accredited. The discrimination that lasted nearly 20 years has been corrected by both the court and the amended law.
NOUN remains one of the most flexible universities in Nigeria, and the addition of NYSC eligibility has removed the last major concern many people had. So if your question is still ‘Does NOUN Student Go For NYSC’, then yes — NOUN students now serve, proudly wear the green and white, and come back with the same discharge certificate as everyone else.
If you graduated before the full implementation (roughly pre-2024 mobilization), unfortunately you fall under the old rule and will only get an exclusion letter. But for everyone graduating from 2023/2024 session upwards, your call-up letter is assured. Welcome to the service year!
