Nigeria TV Info 

FG Makes Thesis Submission Mandatory for NYSC Mobilization

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a significant reform requiring all prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to submit their academic theses or final year project reports as a condition for mobilization or exemption. This directive, effective from October 6, 2025, aims to enhance the integrity of the NYSC scheme and safeguard the nation's intellectual assets.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu invoked Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act to approve this reform, mandating compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). The policy stipulates that all Nigerian graduates, regardless of their institution's location—be it domestic or international—must deposit their academic outputs into the NERD databank. This measure serves as a quality assurance check and provides an independent proof of continuous academic enrollment and affiliation .

The enforcement circular, issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, specifies that no graduate will be mobilized for or exempted from NYSC without evidence of NERD compliance. This requirement applies equally to all educational institutions, including public, private, military, and civilian establishments, both within and outside Nigeria .

The NERD policy, which has been in effect since March 2025, mandates the submission of academic outputs such as theses and project reports. This initiative is part of a broader effort to curb certificate fraud and preserve Nigeria's intellectual assets. According to Section 6.1.23 of the policy, these submissions are designed to serve as a quality assurance measure and provide independent proof of academic enrollment .

The new regulation does not affect serving corps members or those enrolled before the enforcement date. However, it underscores the government's commitment to ensuring the credibility of academic qualifications and the NYSC scheme.

For more information on the NERD policy and the submission process, prospective corps members are advised to visit the official NERD onboarding portal at https://ned.gov.ng/onboarding.