The Federal Government has announced that the traditional khaki uniform worn by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will be replaced with Adire fabric as part of newly approved reforms aimed at promoting local production and boosting the nation’s economy.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He said the initiative is designed to support indigenous textile manufacturers and ensure government spending benefits Nigerian industries.
According to the minister, Adire fabrics produced in states such as Ogun State and Kwara State, along with other locally manufactured textiles, will now be used for NYSC uniforms.
“It’s Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.
The minister also announced that, under the reforms, corps members will be deployed based on their academic disciplines and professional qualifications rather than through the existing general posting system.
He explained that graduates of education, for example, would be posted to schools in line with their training after completing the orientation course.
Olawande further revealed that the government is considering deploying corps members to states or regions where they studied or are already familiar with the environment.
He said the proposal is intended to address security concerns and provide greater reassurance to parents and prospective participants.
He also dismissed reports suggesting that the military would be removed from the NYSC programme, describing the claims as a misconception.
According to him, the reforms are intended to shift the emphasis from military-style mobilisation to civilian-focused mobilisation while retaining the role of the armed forces in the orientation programme.
