Graduates must now submit projects and thesis to the national database before NYSC mobilization begins.
Government says the new rule will curb certificate fraud and protect Nigeria’s intellectual assets nationwide.
Graduating students preparing for the one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme will now be required to submit their projects and thesis before they can be mobilized.
This follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a reform linking the NYSC mobilization process to the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). By invoking Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, the President directed that no graduate whether trained locally or abroad will be mobilized for or exempted from NYSC without proof of compliance with the NERD policy.
According to a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the new requirement takes effect from October 6.
Under the NERD framework, students must upload their academic outputs, including projects and thesis, to help curb certificate fraud and safeguard Nigeria’s intellectual assets. Section 6.1.23 of the policy describes this as an independent quality assurance measure and proof of academic enrolment.
Earlier in March 2025, when declaring the NERD program effective, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the approved stipulations for mandatory submission of academic works had become binding requirements across Nigerian institutions.
NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima emphasized that every submission will include details such as the student’s full name, supervisor, co-supervisor (if any), Head of Department, and the institution’s name.
She added that beyond authentication, the program is designed to raise the quality of academic content nationwide and strengthen supervision in higher institutions. According to her, the platform’s transparency will encourage lecturers to ensure higher standards since their names will appear alongside students’ work on a global database.
