The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially announced the commencement of physical verification of credentials for all foreign-trained graduates ahead of the 2025 Batch ‘C’ service year. According to the announcement, the verification exercise will hold between Monday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at nine designated centres across the country.
This exercise is one of the most crucial stages in the NYSC mobilization process for Nigerian graduates who obtained their degrees from foreign institutions. It serves as a screening procedure to confirm the authenticity of academic and travel documents submitted during online registration.
Purpose of the Verification Exercise
The NYSC management explained that the physical verification is an integrity measure designed to maintain the credibility of the national service scheme. Over the years, the scheme has encountered cases of individuals submitting forged academic credentials or claiming foreign education without authentic documentation.
Through this verification exercise, the Corps seeks to:
- Verify the genuineness of academic qualifications presented by foreign-trained graduates.
- Ensure that only those who meet NYSC’s statutory requirements are mobilized for national service.
- Detect and disqualify individuals attempting to participate in the scheme through fraudulent means.
- Maintain transparency and fairness in the mobilization process for both local and foreign-trained graduates.
According to NYSC, all candidates whose credentials are successfully verified will proceed to the next stage — which includes deployment, exemption, or exclusion from service — depending on eligibility.
List of Designated Verification Centres Nationwide
The NYSC announced that the physical verification will take place simultaneously at the following approved centres across Nigeria:
| S/N | State | Venue/Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enugu State | NYSC Secretariat, 2 Abakaliki Road, G.R.A, Enugu. |
| 2 | Bauchi State | Shadawanka Military Barracks, Bauchi. |
| 3 | Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) | NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja. |
| 4 | Kano State | Bukavu Military Barracks, Fagge, Airport Road, Kano. |
| 5 | Lagos State | NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos. |
| 6 | Osun State | NYSC Secretariat, New Ikirun Road, Osogbo, Osun State. |
| 7 | Rivers State | NYSC Secretariat, 40 Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. |
| 8 | Sokoto State | Eagle Officers Mess, Gingiya Military Barracks, Gusau Road, Sokoto. |
| 9 | Adamawa State | NYSC Secretariat, Federal Secretariat Complex, Yola, Adamawa State. |
Important Instructions for Prospective Corps Members (PCMs)
All prospective corps members (PCMs) who studied abroad and registered for the 2025 Batch ‘C’ service year are required to adhere strictly to the following guidelines during the verification period:
- Attend the verification strictly according to the date, time, and venue indicated on your verification slip. Any attempt to attend outside your allotted time may result in disqualification.
- Come with the originals of all uploaded documents — including academic certificates, transcripts, and travel documents.
- PCMs whose names appear on the list must also bring along two photocopies of each document for record purposes.
- Medical graduates are to present their Registration and Practicing Licenses from the relevant professional regulatory bodies.
- Candidates must also bring Evaluation Letters from the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) where applicable, as this confirms the validity of foreign academic certificates.
- The NYSC strongly warns that proxy attendance will not be accepted, and any form of impersonation will attract severe sanctions.
- Participants are advised to dress decently and comport themselves responsibly during the verification process.
NYSC’s Stand on Transparency and Fraud Prevention
Speaking on the development, NYSC management reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining integrity and discipline within the scheme. The Corps emphasized that this verification process is not a mere formality but a critical step to preserve the reputation of the service year and to uphold Nigeria’s national values.
In recent years, the scheme has intensified its monitoring of foreign-trained graduates, introducing stricter verification protocols to curb the influx of fake certificates. The NYSC disclosed that it has collaborated with international institutions and Nigerian embassies abroad to crosscheck educational records and confirm the authenticity of documents submitted by applicants.
Officials further noted that any candidate found guilty of falsifying documents or misrepresenting information will be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution, in line with existing NYSC regulations.
Next Steps After Verification
Upon successful verification, candidates’ records will be updated on the NYSC portal. Only those whose documents have been physically confirmed will be eligible for further mobilization steps — including call-up number generation and deployment to their various states of service.
Graduates who fail to attend the physical verification exercise will not be deployed for the 2025 Batch ‘C’ service year and may be required to wait for subsequent batches.
The Corps also advised PCMs to keep checking their online dashboard regularly for new updates, posting information, or any changes in their service schedule.
