FG makes final-year project submission mandatory for NYSC mobilisation
The Federal Government has directed that graduates must now submit their final year projects, theses, and other academic outputs to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) to be eligible for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
President Bola Tinubu approved the reform, which formally ties NYSC mobilisation to compliance with the NERD policy.
The directive was issued via a circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and takes effect from October 6, 2025.
Under the new regulation, no graduate whether educated in Nigeria or abroad will be mobilised for NYSC, nor exempted from it, without proof that their academic work has been deposited into the NERD system.
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The academic outputs required include, among others, final year projects, dissertations, and theses, which students must upload into the national repository.
Officials said this step is part of efforts to curb certificate fraud, preserve Nigeria’s intellectual assets and establish an independent mechanism for assuring the quality of higher education outputs.
NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima explained that each submission must detail the student’s name, supervisor, co-supervisor, where applicable, head of department, and sponsoring institution.
She noted that this requirement will strengthen supervision, motivate higher standards among lecturers, and tie accountability to each scholarly work.
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In March 2025, during the Declaration of Effectiveness for NERD, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had flagged the mandatory submission of academic outputs as a legal requirement embedded in multiple policy sections.
Galadima said that when scholars know their names will appear publicly linked to students, it would discourage sloppy supervision and encourage more diligence.
The new regulation applies to graduates from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and foreign institutions. It does not affect current corps members or those who will be mobilised before October 6 under the old rules.
Complying graduates will now need to ensure their academic works are properly uploaded, verified, and accepted by NERD to clear the path to NYSC mobilisation.
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