By Yemi Itodo

Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has successfully concluded arrangements with the prestigious University of Ibadan (UI), to run academic programs for its officers and members of the public, on consultancy basis.

To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Corps and the institution, via the university’s Consultancy Services Unit, in collaboration with the Standard Trust Educational Consulting firm (UICSU/STEC).

In a statement signed Wednesday by the Corp's Public Relations Officer (PRO), Patriot Millicent Umoru, the Peace Corps shall be running Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) programs, on behalf of the institution.

Peace Corps of Nigeria, a youth based organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), also enjoys consultative status with the United Nations and the ECOWAS, with core interest in orienting youths and students at educational institutions.

Patriot Umoru stated that "the MoU is part of Peace Corps of Nigeria’s efforts to enhance the academic qualifications and subsequent career progression of its teeming members nationwide.

"It is also in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 17, which relates to Expanding Access to Quality Education and Forging Partnerships for the Attainment of the SDGs, respectively".

According to the MoU, "members of PCN will be offered the unique opportunity to acquire an expedited and cost-efficient Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Post Graduate Diploma from Nigeria’s premier university, in Peace Building and Conflict Management; Political Science and Public Administration; Mass Communication and Journalism;
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management; Safety and Security Management; English and Foreign Language (French); Transport Management; Public and International Relations.

"The MoU stipulates that all serving members of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, who possess the Ordinary Level Certificate (SSCE) or its equivalent, shall be offered admission into the appropriate Diploma Programme.

"Serving PCN members with University Diploma, National Diploma, NCE or their equivalents shall be eligible for admission into the appropriate Advanced Diploma Programme.

"Serving PCN members with Advanced Diploma, HND, B.Sc. or their equivalents, will be admitted into the appropriate Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programme".

Umoru said all serving PCN officers shall
enjoy highly subsidized course registration and tuition fees, for all categories of the aforementioned academic programmes.

"All serving PCN officers who have completed the mandatory one-month Initial Training and Orientation will be eligible for admission to study Peace Building and Conflict Management at the appropriate levels, irrespective of their previous programmes of study, as the course aligns properly within the purview of operation of the Corps.

"For PCN staff seeking admission into the Advanced Diploma or PGD categories of the other academic programmes, they are required to possess lower qualifications in a related discipline", she added.

The statement said all graduating students under the scheme will be awarded their certificates at the university’s convocation ceremony, which will take place on predetermined dates.

According to Umoru, application and registration under the programme is currently ongoing in the 36 State Commands of the Corps and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, stressing that registration is expected to officially close on the 31st November, 2019.