NYSC Mobilisation Tied to Final Year Project Submission, FG Declares
- In a decisive move to strengthen academic integrity and streamline national service eligibility, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced a landmark reform
- The directive links NYSC mobilisation to compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), marking a new chapter in Nigeria’s education policy
- Effective from 6 October, the policy aims to curb certificate fraud and elevate the quality of academic output nationwide
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping reform that ties the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation process to the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD),.
The directive, which was conveyed through a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, is set to take effect from 6 October.
Source: Facebook
By invoking Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, President Tinubu mandated that no graduate, whether from a Nigerian or foreign institution, would be mobilised for or exempted from NYSC without proof of compliance.
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Under the NERD framework, students are required to deposit academic outputs such as theses and project reports.
This requirement, outlined in Section 6.1.23 of the policy, serves as an independent quality assurance measure and proof of academic enrolment.
NERD policy to combat certificate fraud and elevate academic standards
The reform builds on the Declaration of Effectiveness for NERD issued in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
At the time, Alausa stated that “the approved stipulations for mandatory submission of academic outputs as provided in Sections 2.3, 4.3(1), and 7.6.11(c), among others, of the approved National Policy for the NERD Programme shall become obligatory requirements in Nigeria.”
NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima explained the significance of the directive. She noted that each student submission would include the full names of the student, supervisor, co-supervisor (where applicable), and Head of Department, along with the sponsoring institution and department.
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Galadima said, “Apart from the mandate to verify for authenticity as a national flagship, the NERD digitisation programme has a clear objective – to raise the bar in the quality of academic content, output and presentation nationwide.”
She added that NERD aims to strengthen supervision processes in higher institutions without interfering directly.
“If our eminent scholars are aware that their names will appear next to those of the students they supervise on a globally available digital platform, there is the likelihood that each lecturer would up his or her standard,” she said.
“Very few lecturers would want their names associated with poorly produced academic works. NERD is therefore poised to help each lecturer earn his ‘earned allowances’ by providing thorough supervision.”
The integration of NYSC mobilisation with the NERD policy marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to academic accountability and intellectual preservation.
By digitising and centralising academic outputs, the government aims to foster transparency, elevate scholarly standards, and safeguard the nation’s educational legacy.
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Source: Depositphotos
Corps members storm Asaba, feed beggars
Legit.ng earlier reported that Corps members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta state staged an outreach that provided free meals to over 100 beggars and homeless persons in Asaba.
The initiative, tagged SDG2: Food on the Street, was organised by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Community Development Service (CDS) group.
It aimed to raise awareness about food wastage while addressing hunger among the vulnerable in the city.
Source: Legit.ng
