The Federal Government has announced that from October 6, 2025, all graduates must submit their final year projects or academic research before they can be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
This directive, approved by President Tinubu and communicated by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, ties NYSC mobilisation to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) policy.
Under this policy, every graduate whether from a Nigerian or foreign institution must upload their theses, dissertations, or project reports to NERD. This move is aimed at curbing certificate fraud, preserving intellectual property, and improving the quality of academic work nationwide.
Students’ submissions will include their full name, supervisor’s name, department, and institution. This transparency will hold both students and lecturers accountable, as their names will appear on a publicly accessible digital platform. According to NERD, this will push supervisors to maintain high standards, knowing their reputations are on the line.
The Education Ministry explained that the new rule will also serve as proof of actual academic enrolment and an independent quality control measure for Nigerian higher institutions.
