The Institute for Humanitarian and Disaster Management in Katsina has voiced concern about the growing unemployment problem facing NYSC graduates.
Speaking at the NYSC orientation camp in Katsina on Wednesday, Registrar Ephraim Aiyada said many fresh graduates continue to submit job applications without receiving any responses.
He explained that employers now place more value on work experience and professional certifications than on academic degrees alone.
According to him, many applicants are rejected not because they lack degrees, but because they do not have the required experience or professional qualifications. He noted that employers often assess an application within just 30 seconds.
Aiyada also shared an example of a first-class graduate who lost a job opportunity to a second-class graduate who had three professional certifications.
He emphasized that professional skills can help compensate for limited experience and give graduates a stronger advantage in the job market.
Aiyada praised NYSC for programmes like SAED and its partnerships with professional bodies that help corps members gain certifications.
The Institute offers more than 20 professional courses, postgraduate diplomas, membership certificates, and licenses at subsidized rates with flexible payment options. These opportunities are aimed at helping corps members improve their employability beyond academic qualifications.
