President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major reform linking eligibility for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
According to a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the new directive requires all graduates—whether from Nigerian or foreign institutions—to provide proof of NERD compliance before they can be mobilised or exempted from NYSC. The policy takes effect on October 6, 2025.
The measure, anchored on provisions of the NYSC Act, mandates Nigerian students to deposit their academic outputs, including theses and project reports, into the national repository. Government officials say the requirement will strengthen quality assurance, combat certificate racketeering, and safeguard intellectual assets.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had earlier described the initiative as a compulsory benchmark for all higher education institutions, including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, nursing schools, and research institutes, regardless of ownership or affiliation.
A copy of the approved policy also reveals that Tinubu endorsed a monetisation scheme that will allow students and lecturers to earn revenue from their academic deposits. The policy further directs institutions to establish local repositories and mandates agencies such as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to support data exchange through digital platforms.
NERD spokesperson, Haula Galadima, explained that every academic work submitted will be tagged with the names of the student, supervisor, and head of department, ensuring accountability. She added that the system will elevate academic standards by discouraging poor supervision, as lecturers’ names will be visible on a global digital platform.The directive will not affect current corps members or those already mobilised before the enforcement date.
Officials believe the policy will restore credibility to Nigeria’s academic system, foster transparency, and improve supervision across higher institutions nationwide.