Some blacklisted universities in the Benin Republic have devised means of sneaking their graduates into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through collaborations with certain private polytechnics in Nigeria, Saturday PUNCH investigations have revealed.

Findings showed that the universities now obtain Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND) certificates for their graduates and students due for graduation through the private polytechnics.

After issuing the HND certificates, the polytechnics then mobilise the affected students for the mandatory NYSC programme.

Saturday PUNCH also learnt that the students were made to pay about ₦400,000 to obtain the HND certificates from the polytechnics, mostly located in South-West and South-East states.

Blacklisted Benin varsities

In 2024, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, announced the suspension of the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

Over 45 Beninoise and Togolese universities were affected by the suspension.

The government’s decision followed a report by Daily Nigerian, which exposed the activities of a degree mill in Cotonou, a major city in the Benin Republic.

An undercover reporter with the newspaper had obtained a degree from one of the universities within six weeks and even participated in the mandatory NYSC in Nigeria.

Following the ban, some of the affected universities reportedly turned to private polytechnics to facilitate NYSC enrolment for their Nigerian graduates.

The connivance

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a graduate of Esfam-Benin University — one of the blacklisted institutions in Porto Novo — identified only as Seun, said his academic records had been forwarded to a Nigerian private polytechnic for processing.

He added that some of his classmates had already been processed and were awaiting their NYSC call-up letters, expected before December.

Seun disclosed that two graduates from his school had already been mobilised for NYSC through the same polytechnic, though he admitted spending a fortune on the process.

“Others have completed their processing and are just waiting for NYSC to mobilise them in the next batch. They are currently working on some graduates who registered earlier than us. Before the end of the year, those graduates will be posted. I know of two ladies from our school who are already serving now.

“While others have completed their processing, I’m having an issue with my O’Level that I’m resolving. I was told to pay ₦120,000 for a ‘special centre’ where they will help me pass the GCE or an equivalent exam. Once that’s done, I can register, and the portal will be opened for me.

“Our names and certificates have already been processed with the polytechnic. Basically, once you have money, you can get a Benin Republic certificate, then take it to a Nigerian polytechnic — again with money — and get a new certificate that allows you to go for NYSC.”

Another graduate of one of the blacklisted universities explained that a key member of the school’s management informed them about the “package” after the Nigerian government’s suspension took effect.

“When universities in Benin Republic were blacklisted, the school’s key member, Dele, told us that people were still serving in NYSC.

“He said that, though our university certificates were no longer valid for NYSC, he could help us through a private polytechnic in Nigeria. He told us that he had access to the school and would give us a link, but we had to pay a certain amount.

“He explained that we would be able to go for NYSC using the Nigerian polytechnic and that we would be issued ND and HND certificates from that school.

“He also directed us to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s office in Ikoyi, where we met a man who gave us a PIN for registration. When we got there, the man already knew we were from him.”

A Saturday PUNCH correspondent, who posed as a parent, also spoke with another graduate from a Beninoise university, identified as Isa, who disclosed that he had been enrolled in one of the polytechnics and was awaiting his NYSC call-up. Isa said he expected to go for service before December.

He confirmed that many schools in the West African country were collaborating with Nigerian polytechnics to ensure their students participated in the NYSC.

Isa revealed that he obtained his ND and HND certificates from a private polytechnic in Abia State.

“A private polytechnic in Abia State was arranged for us. The last time I spoke with the registrar, he told me that our names had already been submitted to NYSC. However, they need a few other graduates to go for mobilisation before our turn.

“That’s why I didn’t join the last batch. We’ll be going with the next set after the current one finishes camping. This is not a scam — it’s working,” he said.

How the fraudulent scheme works

A university administrator in Porto Novo, who was also part of the syndicate, told Saturday PUNCH that he had withdrawn from the illegal activity.