THE Federal Government has clarified that it has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), with the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, explaining that the widely reported proposal remains under consideration as part of the ongoing reforms of the scheme.
News Point Nigeria reports that Olawande made the clarification in a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, hours after his comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief sparked widespread reactions suggesting that Adire had been adopted to replace the iconic NYSC khaki uniform.
The minister said reports claiming the Federal Government had approved Adire as the new corps uniform misrepresented his remarks during the interview.
He explained that while he mentioned Adire and Ankara as possible options, they were merely examples of proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing reform process.
According to him, “No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”
“My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform,” Olawande stated.
The minister said the government is evaluating options that “tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride.”
He added that any eventual decision would be guided by extensive consultations with stakeholders and what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.
Olawande also urged Nigerians not to allow discussions surrounding the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the ongoing reforms of the scheme.
According to him, the reforms are designed to make the NYSC more relevant to present-day realities by improving employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery and creating a smoother transition from education to productive careers.
“While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths and positioning the NYSC as a stronger platform for national development,” he said.
Earlier, The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government planned to replace the NYSC’s traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire as part of sweeping reforms approved for the 53-year-old scheme.
Speaking during his interview on Channels Television, Olawande had said, “It’s Adire,” explaining that the proposal was intended to promote local textile production and ensure government spending remained within the Nigerian economy.
The proposed uniform change is part of the comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, which also includes skills-based deployment of corps members, civilian operational leadership of the scheme and amendments to the NYSC Act.