Graduating students preparing to participate in the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) must now submit their final year projects and theses prior to being mobilized.
This new requirement follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement of reforms that integrate the NYSC mobilisation process with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). Citing Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, the President mandated that no graduate-whether from a Nigerian or international institution-will be mobilized or granted exemption from NYSC without demonstrating adherence to the NERD policy.
The directive, issued through a circular by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, became effective starting October 6.
Within the NERD framework, students must upload their academic works, including theses and project reports, as part of a nationwide initiative to combat certificate forgery and safeguard Nigeria’s scholarly heritage. Section 6.1.23 of the policy specifies that this submission acts as an independent verification of academic enrollment and quality assurance.
Earlier in March 2025, during the formal Declaration of Effectiveness for NERD, Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa emphasized that the mandatory submission of academic outputs, as outlined in Sections 2.3, 4.3(1), and 7.6.11(c) of the National Policy for the NERD Programme, would henceforth be compulsory across Nigeria.
NERD’s spokesperson, Haula Galadima, underscored the significance of this policy by noting that each student’s submission must include detailed information such as the full names of the student, their supervisor, any co-supervisors, the Head of Department, as well as the sponsoring institution and department.
“Beyond authenticating academic credentials as a national priority, the NERD digitization initiative aims to elevate the standard of academic content, output, and presentation throughout the country.
One strategy to achieve this is by enhancing supervision quality in higher education institutions, without directly intervening in academic processes.
When lecturers know their names will be publicly linked to the students’ work on a globally accessible digital platform, it encourages them to maintain higher standards.
Few academics would want their reputations tied to substandard research. NERD is therefore positioned to support lecturers in earning their deserved recognition by fostering rigorous supervision.”
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