Nigeria

FG Mandates Thesis Submission for NYSC Mobilisation, Begins October 6

Published on September 29, 2025

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Graduates must upload final-year projects to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) before NYSC mobilisation, as new policy takes effect October 6, 2025.

The Federal Government has approved a new policy making the submission of final-year theses and research projects a mandatory requirement for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and conveying the approval of President Bola Tinubu, the directive will take effect from October 6, 2025. It applies to all graduates of Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, as well as Nigerians who studied abroad.

The circular clarified that no graduate will be mobilised for or exempted from the NYSC without proof of compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) policy.

What the policy entails

The NERD programme requires all graduating students to upload their academic outputs which includes theses, dissertations, or project reports into a central digital repository. The Federal Ministry of Education explained that this system would serve as:

A quality assurance mechanism to strengthen academic supervision.
An intellectual property safeguard to secure Nigeria’s research works.
A knowledge bank that promotes accessibility to local research materials.

NERD spokesperson, Haula Galadima, noted that each deposited work will include the student’s name, supervisor(s), Head of Department, and sponsoring institution. She added that since lecturers’ names will appear alongside the works, it will encourage higher supervision standards and discourage poor-quality academic submissions.

Exemptions and impact

The Federal Government stressed that the new rules will not affect current corps members or those mobilised before October 6.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had earlier explained that the policy is part of broader reforms to improve Nigeria’s education system. He highlighted that the government also endorsed an academic output monetisation mechanism, which would allow students and lecturers to earn revenues from their deposited works.

With the reform, authorities aim to reduce certificate racketeering, improve the credibility of higher education qualifications, and ensure Nigerian academic research receives global visibility.

Reactions

Stakeholders have described the initiative as a bold step towards raising academic standards and preserving intellectual property. However, questions remain about how quickly institutions can adjust to the new process and whether students will have adequate support to meet the October deadline.

Since its creation in 1973, the NYSC has played a vital role in national integration and youth development. This latest directive now links participation more closely to compliance with academic standards, placing additional responsibility on prospective corps members.