By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Forged certificates are being used to input biodata on the website of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for mobilisation call up, says Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Registrar, Ishaq Oloyode.
He spoke at a pre-mobilisation workshop organised by the NYSC, where its Director General, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, pledged to sanction institutions and officials who compromise a scheme that has run since 1973 to facilitate national unity.
“There are many ways that corps members and their collaborators take towards corrupting the system. The more you stay long in this system, the more shocked you are likely to become,” recounted Oloyode, a professor.
“Many institutions still engage in mobilising or awarding certificates to people who didn’t attend their institutions. You are in a position to know because you run the Interim Joint Matriculation Board [IJMB] and others.
“How many of these students are actually your students? Go on the streets of Nigeria, you will see IJMB coaching. These candidates are not supposed to be attending roadside coaching. They are supposed to be in your institution.
“I got some information that I became dumbfounded, almost losing hope that there is nothing we can do.
“One gentleman came to me. He said, ‘all this authentication that you are doing, you are just speaking English. People who are making cool money are making it and they are destroying the education system.’
“I asked him to give me an example. And he told me that there is what they call Familiar Name, that all you need to do is to walk to a corrupt officer in any of our examination bodies and when you go there, you say a familiar name.
“If your name is John Bello, they (exam officer) will tell them and they will look for a John Bello who has written their examination before and simply give a copy of the certificate to you and you will take it.
“When you write to that examination body giving that photocopy, they will take it and say it is authentic. Whereas it is in the wrong man’s hand.”
Students who do not attend classes buy IJMB/JUPEB certificates
Oloyode alleged at the workshop in Abuja that some certificates awarded by IJMB and Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) centres for Direct Entry into universities are fake.
IJMB is a government programme for post-secondary school Advanced Level that runs for nine months, moderated by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. It facilitates admission into tertiary institutions through Direct Entry to 200 level.
JUPEB is a national examination body approved by the government in December 2013. It was formally established in April 2014 by a consortium of 10 universities led by the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Vanguard quoted the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as reporting that Oloyede expressed concern over the indiscriminate proliferation of IJMB and JUPEB centres nationwide, some of which he said are compromising standards.
Many institutions operating the centres award IJMB/JUPEB certificates to people who did not attend the schools, according to him.
He said some students who attend the centres do not merit their certificates because they do not attend classes and only buy certificates with money.
“I give you one example, you are in position to know, you run IJMB and JUPEP, how many of these students are actually your students?
“Go on the streets of Nigeria, everywhere you see IJMB, these candidates are not supposed to be attending that, they are supposed to be in higher institutions.
“In Abuja here, you can find up to 100 and they will publicly put it `IJMB training centre,’ this is totally wrong.”
Oloyode commended the introduction of National Identification Number (NIN) which he said has helped curb examination malpractices.
“This year we use National Identification Number (NIN) and we are very happy because examination malpractice, particularly, impersonation in crimes has reduced.
“And that is why many people are not happy with us, if they have anything to do with JAMB they say something different.”
Ibrahim said the workshop heralded the commencement of the Service Year with the constructive engagement of NYSC State Schedule Officers and their partners.
“We will use this avenue to strategise for a smooth process, especially through the resolutions that will be made in the course of our discussions.
“Moreover, the activities lined up for this programme commenced in earnest on Monday with data collation from the various Corps Producing Institutions,” he said.
He commended public officials, traditional rulers, the media, student youth groups, and others for voicing support for the continuation of the NYSC.