The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that the Federal Government has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), following widespread reactions to his earlier comments on the proposed reform.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, the minister said reports claiming that Adire had been adopted to replace the NYSC’s iconic khaki uniform misrepresented his remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Olawande explained that his reference to Adire and Ankara during the interview was merely to illustrate some of the proposals currently under consideration as part of the ongoing reform of the NYSC scheme.
He stressed that no final decision had been reached on the choice of fabric or the design of any new uniform.
“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,” the minister stated.
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According to him, the government is evaluating various options that meet key requirements, including a professional appearance, a distinct national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness and the promotion of national pride.
He added that any decision on the corps members’ uniform would emerge from extensive consultations with stakeholders and would be guided by what best serves the interests of both the NYSC and the nation.
Olawande also appealed to Nigerians not to allow the debate over the proposed uniform to distract attention from the broader reforms being introduced to reposition the 53-year-old scheme.
He said the reform agenda is aimed at making the NYSC more relevant to current realities by improving graduate employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery and ensuring 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.
The clarification came hours after reports emerged suggesting that the Federal Government had concluded plans to replace the traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric to support Nigeria’s textile industry and encourage local production.
During his television interview, Olawande had responded, “It’s Adire,” when asked about the proposed uniform, explaining that the idea was intended to boost indigenous textile manufacturing and retain government spending within the local economy.
The proposed uniform review is one of several reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council earlier this week. Other key changes include skills-based deployment of corps members, the introduction of civilian operational leadership for the scheme and proposed amendments to the NYSC Act.