FG Considers Assessment Tests For Foreign Graduates Before NYSC

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Key Takeaways

The Federal Government is considering compulsory assessment tests for Nigerians who obtained degrees from foreign universities before NYSC mobilisation.
Acting Permanent Secretary of Education Dr Folake Olatunji-David announced the proposal on November 9 in Abuja.
The proposed tests would help determine whether foreign-trained graduates possess the necessary academic knowledge and meet required educational standards.
Concerns about certificate forgery and unrecognised foreign qualifications are among the reasons behind the proposal.
The Federal Ministry of Education has automated and digitalised foreign certificate evaluation and Nigerian certificate authentication since the beginning of 2026.
The National Standing Committee will also consider guidelines for new educational institutions, foreign-curriculum schools and verification of foreign university accreditation.
The assessment proposal has not been confirmed as an implemented requirement, and no examination date or implementation framework was announced.

The Federal Government is considering introducing compulsory assessment tests for Nigerians who obtained degrees from foreign universities before approving their mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The proposed measure is aimed at determining whether foreign-trained graduates possess the necessary academic knowledge and have met the required educational standards before their qualifications are evaluated for NYSC mobilisation.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, disclosed the development on November 9 during the 37th meeting of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications in Abuja.

She explained that the proposal had become necessary amid the growing number of Nigerians pursuing higher education abroad, particularly in West African countries, alongside concerns about certificate forgery and the recognition of foreign academic qualifications.

Why FG Is Considering Assessment Tests For Foreign-Trained Graduates

According to Olatunji-David, the government wants to ensure that Nigerians presenting foreign qualifications have genuinely acquired the knowledge and skills represented by their certificates.

She warned that recognising foreign qualifications without establishing whether the holders had achieved the corresponding academic standards could undermine the quality of education in Nigeria.

The acting permanent secretary maintained that the government remained supportive of international education and global academic interaction but would not compromise educational standards in the process.

Emphasising the importance of genuine academic achievement, she said:

We must ensure that the standard of education in Nigeria is not lowered by allowing all manner of foreign qualifications that are not recognised to be paraded by Nigerians without the corresponding learning achievement.

She further stressed that academic certificates should represent qualifications genuinely earned through the acquisition of the required knowledge and skills.

We want to ensure that, yes, for every certificate given, they are earned, and they can produce people that can contribute positively to our national development.

Ministry Proposes Assessment Before NYSC Mobilisation

Olatunji-David specifically invited the National Standing Committee to consider introducing an assessment test before foreign-trained graduates undergo the evaluation process required for NYSC mobilisation.

The proposed examination would help determine whether applicants had acquired the necessary knowledge and satisfied the relevant academic requirements associated with their qualifications.

She said:

I therefore invite this committee once again to consider, if necessary, an assessment test before such graduates are evaluated for NYSC.

However, the proposal remains under consideration based on the information provided by the ministry. No implementation date, examination format, assessment body or final approval was announced in the report.

National Committee Tasked With Protecting Foreign Certificate Recognition

The acting permanent secretary described the National Standing Committee on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications as an important institution in protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.

The committee is responsible for ensuring that foreign qualifications presented for recognition meet the necessary standards and originate from accredited educational institutions.

Its work is particularly important as increasing numbers of Nigerians pursue educational opportunities outside the country.

The proposed assessment tests would add another consideration to the existing foreign qualification evaluation process if the committee eventually recommends their introduction.

FG Digitalises Foreign Certificate Evaluation Process

Olatunji-David also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education had automated and digitalised the evaluation of foreign certificates and authentication of Nigerian certificates since the beginning of 2026.

According to her, the digital system had made the evaluation process more seamless.

She added that fees collected through the process were being remitted into government accounts as part of efforts to improve revenue generation.

The development forms part of the ministry’s efforts to strengthen the administration of certificate evaluation and authentication while improving the handling of applications.

Committee To Consider Guidelines For New Educational Institutions

Beyond foreign university qualifications, the National Standing Committee is also expected to consider guidelines for issuing no-objection letters required for registering proposed educational institutions with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The proposed guidelines are intended to provide a framework for handling requests connected to the establishment and registration of new educational institutions.

The committee will also examine issues relating to foreign-curriculum secondary schools operating in Nigeria.

One of the matters under consideration is ensuring that such schools prepare their students for at least one recognised public examination before graduation.

The recognised examinations identified include those conducted by:

West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
National Examinations Council (NECO).
National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).

FG To Strengthen Monitoring And Verification Of Foreign Qualifications

Other matters scheduled for consideration include the recognition of foreign secondary school qualifications and monitoring Nigerians studying at educational institutions across African countries.

The committee is also expected to deliberate on establishing diplomatic channels through which the accreditation status of foreign universities can be verified.

Such verification channels would support efforts to distinguish recognised institutions from those whose qualifications may not satisfy Nigeria’s requirements for academic recognition.

These issues form part of the wider responsibility of the committee to ensure that foreign qualifications presented in Nigeria undergo appropriate scrutiny.

Ministry Urges Fairness In Evaluation Of Foreign Qualifications

Earlier, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Education Support Services, Gabriel Amudipe, urged members of the committee to maintain fairness and objectivity when evaluating foreign academic qualifications.

He emphasised that the committee’s decisions were important to improving learning outcomes, strengthening institutional performance and promoting quality assurance across Nigeria’s education sector.

His remarks reinforced the importance of ensuring that decisions on foreign qualifications are guided by established standards and objective evaluation procedures.

What The Proposed Assessment Tests Could Mean For Foreign-Trained Graduates

If approved, the proposed assessment tests could introduce an additional stage for Nigerians who obtained degrees from foreign universities and intend to participate in the NYSC scheme.

Rather than relying exclusively on the presentation and evaluation of academic certificates, the proposed arrangement could require applicants to demonstrate that they possess the knowledge represented by their qualifications.

For foreign-trained graduates, this could make it particularly important to understand the recognition status of their institutions and the requirements governing the evaluation of their certificates.

However, the government has not announced a final decision on the proposed tests in the information provided. Foreign-trained graduates should therefore distinguish between the proposal being considered and any officially approved NYSC mobilisation requirement.

The next important development will be whether the National Standing Committee recommends the assessment process and whether the Federal Ministry of Education subsequently announces an implementation framework.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Federal Government introducing assessment tests for foreign-trained graduates?

The Federal Government is considering introducing compulsory assessment tests for foreign-trained Nigerian graduates before their certificates are evaluated for NYSC mobilisation. The proposal has not been confirmed as an implemented policy.

2. Why is the government considering assessment tests for foreign graduates?

The government wants to establish whether foreign-trained graduates have acquired the necessary academic knowledge and meet the required educational standards. Concerns about certificate forgery and unrecognised qualifications have also contributed to the proposal.

3. Who announced the proposed assessment tests?

The proposal was disclosed by Dr Folake Olatunji-David, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, during the 37th meeting of the National Standing Committee on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications in Abuja.

4. Will foreign-trained graduates have to pass an examination before NYSC?

The government is considering this possibility, but the proposal has not been confirmed as a final requirement. No examination format, pass mark or implementation date was announced.

5. What is the National Standing Committee on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications?

It is a committee responsible for matters relating to the evaluation and recognition of foreign academic qualifications. Its work includes helping ensure that qualifications presented for recognition meet appropriate educational standards.

6. Has the Federal Ministry of Education digitalised foreign certificate evaluation?

Yes. Olatunji-David disclosed that the ministry had automated and digitalised the evaluation of foreign certificates and authentication of Nigerian certificates since the beginning of 2026.

7. Which public examinations must foreign-curriculum secondary schools prepare students for?

The committee is considering a requirement for such schools to prepare students for at least one recognised public examination conducted by WAEC, NECO, NABTEB or NBAIS before graduation.

8. Will the proposed tests affect all Nigerians who studied abroad?

The proposal concerns Nigerians with foreign university degrees seeking evaluation of their qualifications for NYSC mobilisation. However, the precise scope and eligibility requirements have not yet been announced.