The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on Thursday clarified that the Federal Government has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), hours after his earlier comments sparked widespread public reactions.
In a statement posted on his official X account, Olawande said reports suggesting that Adire had been adopted to replace the NYSC’s iconic khaki uniform misrepresented his remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
The minister explained that he mentioned Adire and Ankara only as examples of proposals being considered as part of the ongoing reform of the scheme, stressing that no final decision had been taken on the fabric or design of a 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,” he said.
According to Olawande, the government is evaluating options that meet key criteria, including professional appearance, a distinctive national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness and the promotion of national pride.
He said any eventual decision would be based on extensive stakeholder consultations and what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.
The minister also urged Nigerians not to allow discussions over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the ongoing reforms.
“The reforms are designed to make the Scheme more relevant to today’s 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 on Thursday, reports emerged that the Federal Government planned to replace the NYSC’s traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire as part of a comprehensive reform of the 53-year-old scheme.
During his appearance on Channels Television, Olawande had said, “It’s Adire,” explaining that the proposal was intended to promote Nigeria’s textile industry and ensure government spending supports local production.
The proposed uniform change is one of several reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday. The broader overhaul also includes deploying corps members based on their fields of study, placing the scheme’s operational leadership under a civilian, while retaining military security support, and amending the NYSC Act to accommodate the changes.
