Required Documents
This is where the NYSC registration battle is won or lost. Don’t worry I’m not about to simply echo the list of required documents mentioned on the official site. That’s what the official site is there for :) Besides, we have bigger fish to fry. For reference purposes and, of course, to satisfy your curiosity, you can find a copy of the official list for 2013 batch B here. The list rarely changes.
Now let me take you through some things that are not so obvious from the official list.
Original Documents vs Photocopies
You need one photocopy of all the documents. It is better to arrive with your photocopies so you don't have to queue up for expensive copies at the office. By all means feel free to make two copies. Just remember you'll most likely end up going home with your second copies. Also note that you won't be asked to submit your original documents but they expect to see them for comparison with the photocopies. What I'm trying to say is: you must have the original documents with you.
First University Degree or HND Certificate
Just produce exactly what is mentioned. Nothing more. Nothing less. If you're one of those lucky enough to have acquired A-Level or whatever additional certificate that's not required by the default Nigerian track from secondary school to undergraduate degree, please do yourself a favour and leave all that extra stuff at home (or in your bag). It is only going to slow you down. Remember the aim is to be back home before lunch time :)
Transcript
Go with the transcript of all your university courses. I guess the same applies to HND.
Affidavit for Change of Name
If there is any major or minor difference between the names on your documents, just go and get a sworn affidavit plus newspaper publication. I repeat, plus newspaper publication. Even if this slips the mind of whoever is checking your documents (after all, it is not mentioned on the official list), but you know you need them, just do yourself a favour and produce these documents for them to be attached with the rest. You have been warned.
Personal experience: During the first check, I was asked for newspaper publication to go with the affidavit. I said I don't have one. The response I got was "it is not too late". In subsequent checks, no one asked for a newspaper publication so I just submitted my documents with the affidavit but without newspaper publication. Back home in Lagos, I received a call from the NYSC office. It went something like this:
NYSC staff: We can't find your newspaper publication that should go with your affidavit.
Me: I did not submit any.
NYSC staff: Why
Me: Because I did not think it was required. After all, no one said it was necessary.
NYSC staff: Well, it is not necessary i.e. if you don't intend to join 2013 batch B.
The good thing was that I did not have to submit it in person so just got someone in Abuja to help me submit it. For similar reasons, it is risky to put off your registration until the last couple of days before the deadline.
O Level Certificate e.g. NECO, WASC etc
On the official page, they listed a bunch of certificates. I only submitted WAEC (i.e. WASC) certificate. No need to show up with photocopies of all your O Level certificates. And no need to produce secondary school transcripts. Also take note of the section that states "Statements of Result or Attestation Letters are not acceptable in lieu of any certificate". Once again, you have been warned :)
Passport
Note that Candidates with dual nationality are required to produce both passports for verification.
Visa
Photocopy of all student visas you received for your degree. And, of course, have all the passports with you. By extension, also make a photocopy of the data page of all the relevant passports.
Passport Stamps
If you have made several trips between Nigeria and the country you studied, please note that they are only interested in two stamps:
- The latest stamp you received on your way from Nigeria to that country before the start of your course.
- The earliest stamp you received on you way back to Nigeria after graduation.
Do not go about making photocopies of all entry stamps you received between the start of your course and the day you return for NYSC registration. Don't waste your resources! Don't be like me :)
Missing Passport or Travelling Documents
Follow the procedure mentioned in the official list i.e. police and immigration report from the country where the passport got missing, sworn affidavit, etc. Note that it also states that these substitute documents "should contain the same information as contained in the lost passport". As an international student, you should perhaps make a habit of maintaining a scanned copy of your travel documents on your PC or some form of online storage e.g. by simply emailing yourself a copy.
Student ID Card
It seems like foreign-trained graduates were required to produce their student ID card in the past (I read this in some other document online). Well, not anymore. As a rule of thumb, make sure you check the list of required documents for your batch on the official site.
Special Note
You see that last section where it states that "Foreign-trained graduates enlisting into the Nigerian Youth Service are not obliged to choose their State of deployment...". Well, that's just one fancy way of telling you that you have absolutely no choice about the state you are going to be deployed (unless, of course, you know someone that can influence it). In the past, foreign-trained graduates were allowed to choose the state they wanted. Well, not anymore. You won't even have such option in the form. The only mentioned exception is married women. I'm not sure what happens to married men though.
You will, however, be allowed to indicate the state where you hope to pick up your call up letter. You will find out the state you've been posted when you go and pick up your call up letter. For 2013 batch B, after receiving this letter you'll have at most seven days (18th to 25th June) to deploy yourself to wherever you've been posted. I wonder who came up with these timelines. This is just mean!
Conclusion
Now let's move on to the application forms you'll be asked to fill.
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