The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has made it known that no decision has been taken on changing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform, following widespread reactions to comments he made during a television interview.
As contained in a statement posted across his official social media pages, the minister said reports suggesting that the Federal Government had adopted Adire as the new NYSC uniform were not factual.
According to him, his mention of Adire during his appearance on Channels Television was only to highlight some of the proposals being considered as part of the ongoing reforms of the scheme.
“My attention has been drawn to some media reports following my brief appearance earlier this morning on Channels TV regarding the ongoing reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), particularly on the issue of the proposed uniform,” he wrote.
“For the avoidance of doubt, yes, I mentioned Adire during the discussion. I also mentioned Ankara. My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform.”
Olawande explained that the government is still reviewing several options and that no final decision has been reached on the design or material for the corps members’ uniform.
He said any eventual choice would be based on factors such as professional appearance, national identity, durability, functionality, affordability and the ability to promote national pride.
“For the record, what we are considering are different options that tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride. No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design,” he stated.
The minister stressed that the ongoing NYSC reforms would continue to be driven by extensive consultations with stakeholders before any major decisions are made.
He also urged Nigerians not to allow the debate over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the reform agenda.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at making the NYSC more relevant to present-day realities by improving employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery and helping young graduates transition more smoothly into productive careers.
“While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths and positioning the NYSC as a stronger platform for national development,” he added.
Olawande thanked Nigerians for their feedback and assured the public that every proposal under consideration would be carefully evaluated in the best interest of both the NYSC and the country.
