The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged certification officers in the scheme to equip themselves with the necessary digital competencies to improve operational effectiveness and service delivery.
The DG charged them to remain vigilant against threats such as certificate forgery, illicit operations and inconsistencies.
According to him, the scheme would imminently implement an electronic records management system, emphasizing the importance for certification officers to cultivate the skills necessary to navigate the changing technological environment.
Nafiu delivered this directive at the 2026 NYSC Certification Officers' Workshop conducted in Abuja.
He noted that given the nation's expectations for the NYSC to uphold rigorous standards of accountability and service excellence, the scheme would continue to reinforce public trust and safeguard the authenticity of its Certificates of National Service.
He said, "We must remain vigilant against challenges such as certificate forgery and racketeering, discrepancies in records, delays in certificate issuance, and the growing demand for faster, more transparent and accessible services."
The Director-General, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Grace Ogbuogebe, mandated that concrete measures be undertaken to convert paper-dependent Certificate of National Service production and issuance documentation to an Electronic Documents and Records Management System, EDRMS.
He elaborated that an integrated digital repository would enable expedited access and monitoring of documentation, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and shield essential records from physical deterioration, misplacement and unauthorized modifications.
Nafiu, who underscored the necessity of coordinated action in preserving the authenticity, dependability and operational effectiveness of the NYSC certification framework, stated that the scheme would persistently assess its protocols and reinforce operational protections.
"We must maintain heightened awareness regarding threats including certificate counterfeiting and illicit operations and inconsistencies," he added.