Sowore To Lead Protest At NYSC Headquarters Over Withheld Discharge Certificate

Human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, will on Tuesday lead a protest against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for allegedly withholding the discharge certificate of corps member and content creator, Rita Uguamaye, popularly known as Raye.

In March, Uguamaye released a video criticising the Federal Government’s policies and its handling of the economy. She also described President Bola Tinubu as a “terrible leader”, condemned Lagos’ “poor living conditions”, and labelled the NYSC scheme as “not beneficial”. The remarks stirred mixed reactions, prompting her to later apologise, stating her comments on Lagos had been misunderstood.

Last week, Uguamaye alleged that the NYSC management withheld her discharge certificate, accusing her of missing the April clearance due to her local government inspector’s refusal to sign her attendance.

On Sunday, however, the NYSC said her service year had been extended by two months for “failing to attend the April 2025 biometric clearance”, adding that she was among 131 corps members sanctioned for similar offences.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, Sowore urged Nigerians to join the protest in solidarity with Uguamaye.

“I want to use this opportunity to invite people to another protest tomorrow on behalf of the youth corps lady who was denied her discharge certificate,” Sowore said.

“She is the only one who spoke up against the president who denied her certificate. We have a clear nexus between what she said and her punishment.”

Addressing the NYSC’s claim that Uguamaye failed to complete the mandatory one-month clearance, Sowore maintained she has evidence proving she attempted the clearance but was turned away.