The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) traditional khaki uniform with Adire fabric as part of sweeping reforms aimed at promoting local production and supporting Nigeria’s economy.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
According to the minister, the decision forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to encourage the use of locally made products and channel public spending toward indigenous industries.
He explained that Adire is already produced in several parts of Nigeria, making it a suitable alternative to the current khaki uniform.
“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.
He noted that the new policy is expected to stimulate Nigeria’s textile industry, create jobs, support local manufacturers and promote indigenous craftsmanship through increased government patronage.
The minister also revealed that the planned uniform change is only one aspect of the ongoing NYSC reforms recently approved by the Federal Government.
According to him, the government is also restructuring the NYSC deployment process to ensure that corps members are posted based on their academic qualifications, professional backgrounds and areas of specialization.
The proposed reforms are intended to make the scheme more productive by aligning graduates with organisations and sectors where their skills can contribute more effectively to national development.
The announcement comes days after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved wide-ranging reforms to reposition the NYSC scheme more than five decades after its establishment.
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