The Federal Government has announced a new policy that will bar graduates from participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme unless they submit copies of their academic projects, theses, or dissertations.
A circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated that the directive, which takes effect from October 6, 2025, was approved by President Bola Tinubu as part of the enforcement of the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
The new rule applies to graduates of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and foreign institutions. According to the government, failure to comply with the policy will automatically disqualify graduates from NYSC mobilisation or exemption.
Government officials explained that the initiative was designed to curb certificate fraud, protect intellectual property, and raise the standard of academic research across the country.
Under the arrangement, students are required to deposit their final projects into the national digital archive with full details, including their names, supervisors, heads of departments, and institutions.
“The NERD programme will serve as a national academic repository to strengthen supervision in higher institutions and promote transparency in record keeping,” a government source noted.
The scheme will also create opportunities for students and lecturers to benefit financially through an approved monetisation system for deposited works.
However, the government clarified that the directive would not affect corps members currently serving or those already mobilised before the effective date.
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