CLose to 200 graduates from Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State are still uncertain about the date of their mobilization for the compulsory national youth service as the school management has failed to pass their names for clearance at least three years after graduation.

The affected people are graduates of the school across the six departments of the Faculty of Agriculture, and the course division of Early Childhood Education in the Guidance and Counselling department for class 2018 and 2019. Graduates of Criminology and Security Studies for the same years are affected too.

Shortly after FIJ’s report about the issue in February, Olugbenga Ige, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, had held a meeting with the affected people, assuring them of NYSC mobilization in the coming batch.

READ ALSO: Adekunle Ajasin University Forced Hundreds of Students To Study Unaccredited Courses. Seven Years After, They Haven’t Been Mobilised for NYSC

But the mobilization of new graduates last weekend fuelled their doubts about the VC’s commitment. One of them who spoke with FIJ anonymously said: “Our concern is that we feel the school is just lying to us. In our last meeting with them in early May, they gave us two weeks but the time has elapsed with nothing to show for it.”

Another colleague, Jude Michael (not real name), added that the VC had told them that they were waiting for Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) to facilitate their Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

Speaking with FIJ on Tuesday, the Vice-Chancellor however allayed any fears over the issue, saying efforts were being made to complete both the admission regularization and NYSC mobilization.

“We are working on that and it will be resolved very soon. There are procedures that must be taken and the university has written letters and met with appropriate authorities,” he said.

“The students were admitted at a time their courses were yet to be accredited. Now, we are at the last stage of the whole processings. JAMB has promised to get back to us on the regularization through CAPS and that would be the end of the challenges.”

Whilst waiting for the eventual release from the university, some of the old graduates complained to FIJ that the delay in observing the youth service has impeded their chances of accessing travel opportunities, getting good jobs or even advancing their education.

Jude lamented the consequences of the delayed mobilization, saying: “In Nigeria where jobs are scarce, I have missed two golden opportunities because nobody wants to offer me a full-time job without the NYSC certificate.”