By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the iconic khaki uniform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with locally produced Adire fabric as part of sweeping reforms aimed at repositioning the scheme and boosting Nigeria’s indigenous textile industry.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Olawande said the decision forms part of the Federal Government’s broader economic strategy to promote local manufacturing, create jobs and ensure public funds are spent on Nigerian-made products.
“It is Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have producers in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, and we have textile industries. Let’s put our money back into the country,” the minister said.
According to him, the new uniforms will be manufactured entirely within Nigeria, a move expected to stimulate the local textile value chain, empower Adire producers and generate employment opportunities across the country.
The proposed switch marks one of the most visible changes to the NYSC scheme since its establishment in 1973, with the khaki uniform having remained a defining symbol of corps members for over five decades.
Beyond the uniform change, Olawande revealed that the Federal Government is overhauling the NYSC deployment process to ensure corps members are posted in line with their academic qualifications, professional skills and fields of study.
He said the reforms are designed to improve the relevance of national service by enabling graduates to contribute more effectively to sectors where their expertise is most needed.
The announcement follows the Federal Government’s approval of comprehensive reforms to the NYSC on June 29. Among the key changes approved is the replacement of the long-standing practice of appointing serving military officers as Director-General of the scheme with the appointment of a civilian to head the organisation.
The reforms are expected to redefine the operations of the NYSC while aligning the scheme with the government’s agenda of promoting local content, economic growth and institutional efficiency.
