FG makes thesis submission compulsory for NYSC participants

The Federal Government has approved a new regulation requiring all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to submit their academic theses or project reports into a national repository before mobilisation or exemption from the scheme.

The policy, which takes effect from October 6, 2025, was endorsed by President Bola Tinubu under Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, according to a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.

The directive mandates full compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), an initiative designed to digitise and preserve the academic outputs of Nigerian graduates.

Under the new rule, graduates of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, as well as those from foreign institutions, must deposit their theses, dissertations, final-year projects, and other academic research into the NERD platform.

Speaking on the development, NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima said the initiative would help raise academic standards by improving the quality of supervision from lecturers, whose names will be permanently linked to student works on the globally accessible platform.

“If our eminent scholars know their names will appear next to the students they supervise on a digital platform, there is a strong likelihood they will ensure higher standards,” Galadima explained. “Very few lecturers would want their names associated with poorly produced academic works.”

She added that the policy would also support fairness in the remuneration of lecturers. “NERD is poised to help each lecturer truly earn their ‘earned allowances’ by providing thorough supervision,” Galadima noted.