Adire Not Approved Yet As NYSC Uniform, Just One Of The Fabrics Being Considered – Minister

By Ayodele Oni

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that no particular fabric has been approved as the new uniform for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

The minister issued the clarification in a Facebook post on Thursday following media reports that emerged after his appearance on Channels Television earlier on Thursday.

According to Olawande, his reference to Adire during the interview was merely to highlight one of several proposals being considered as part of the ongoing reforms of the NYSC scheme and not an announcement of its adoption.

“For the avoidance of doubt, yes, I mentioned Adire during the discussion. I also mentioned Ankara.

“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.

He stressed that no final decision had been taken on the fabric or design of a new uniform, noting that the government is evaluating different options based on professionalism, national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness and the promotion of national pride.

The minister added that any eventual decision would be reached after extensive stakeholder consultations and would be guided by what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.

Olawande urged Nigerians not to allow debates over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the ongoing NYSC reforms.

He explained that the reforms are aimed at making the scheme more relevant to current realities by improving the employability of corps members, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery and ensuring a smoother transition from education to productive careers.

While acknowledging the public interest generated by discussions on the uniform, the minister assured Nigerians that every proposal under consideration would be carefully evaluated in the nation’s best interest.