About 100 pioneer graduates of the Business Administration degree programme of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) are still uncertain about the date of their mobilization for the compulsory National Youth Service.
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The course which is a degree programme under the Department of Management and Accounting in the Faculty of Administration began its admission of students in the 2017/2018 academic session, hence making the 2021/2022 academic session the pioneer set of graduates the course would be producing.
Graduates Present Situation
One of the affected graduates who pleaded anonymity disclosed to ACJOAU that the Head of Department had directed them not to forge ahead with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) online registration as there have been moves to mobilize them as Accounting graduates rather than as Business Administration graduates.
According to the source, the challenge stemmed from a partial accreditation process which amounted to a delay in mobilizing them for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
ACJOAU gathered that the Head of Department had instructed that none should proceed with registration until April. ‘Before our names appeared on the senate list, suggestions were raised from the Division of Student Affairs, if our set should be mobilized and there was a go-ahead from the HOD that yes we should be mobilized but under Accounting. And later when our names appeared under Accounting for NYSC mobilization, the HOD saw the repercussions that would be coming with it even to the university, the department, and even to the students at large so she made a change of mind and put forward the instructions that nobody should register for the ongoing NYSC online registration to avoid unnecessary problems and errors in the future.
Anyone who won’t listen to the instructions given should be ready to face the consequences alone’ the source revealed.
Lawrence Mayor (not real name) speaking on how her colleagues reacted to the issue stated
‘my coursemates made several suggestions on handling the situation. Some said it better we go to the HOD in group and voice out how we feel about the whole thing, some said maybe we come up with a protest or something. It is not just fair to us. It is something that saddens the heart’.
Mayor further reacted, stating ‘For a good six years they have been playing with our lives, this is the future we are talking about. Do you know the most scary thing? What if April comes and another story comes up? It just feels like the department doesn’t care about us because if not for that guy who decided on visiting the HOD we wouldn’t even know anything, we would not have any information, no formal information from the management, no updates, no news. I just hope something is done soon because this is tiring’ she lamented.
Another fresh graduate of the course narrated that Business Administration is not on the NYSC portal. According to him, ‘You know we are the first set. B.Sc Business Administration is not on the NYSC portal and if we dare register under B.Sc Accounting because we are in the same department, there would be an issue. The department is just realizing we have an issue with NYSC after graduating, something which is meant to be sorted since when they started the Business Administration programme. Now they’re telling us to be patient till April. Even the April is tentative’.
NUC Verification Done For Business Administration Programme – Report
According to a report dated June 2021, of the Presidential Visitation Panel to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. 2016-2020, obtained by ACJOAU, it was confirmed that the NUC Verification for the B.Sc. Business Administration Programme at the Obafemi Awolowo University was done.
On page 232 of the report, Table 7.0 labelled ‘Proposed New Programmes, their Respective Faculties and Status’ discussed the status of proposed new courses in the University referencing its source to the Director of Academic Planning OAU. According to the table, the status of the B.Sc. Business Administration Programme is ‘NUC Verification Done’.
‘The University Management is working on it’ – HOD
When ACJOAU contacted the HOD, Prof. Grace Akinola she said the University management is working on the issue. ‘The University management is working on it’ she reiterated in a telephone conversation.
Speaking with the University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Olubola Babalola directed the reporter to the HOD for inquiry. She further asked this reporter to call back for a meeting appointment. When this reporter did, she did not take her calls. A text sent to her was unanswered at press time.
While awaiting the eventual release, some of the graduates complained to ACJOAU that the delay in observing the youth service is impeding their chances of accessing travel opportunities, getting jobs or even advancing their education.