The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the iconic khaki uniform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with locally produced Adire fabric as part of sweeping reforms aimed at repositioning the 53-year-old scheme and boosting Nigeria’s indigenous textile industry.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed the development on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying the move is designed to ensure government spending directly supports local businesses and creates employment opportunities.
According to him, the new NYSC uniforms will be produced entirely in Nigeria, with Adire manufacturers in states such as Ogun and Kwara expected to benefit from the initiative.
“It is Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have producers in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, and we have textile industries. Let’s put our money back into the country,” the minister said.
Olawande explained that replacing the khaki uniform with Adire would stimulate the nation’s textile industry, strengthen local production, create jobs and encourage greater patronage of Nigerian-made products.
He also revealed that the Federal Government is overhauling the NYSC deployment process to ensure corps members are posted in line with their academic qualifications, professional backgrounds and fields of study, a move expected to improve productivity and national development.
The latest announcement comes days after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Monday, June 29, approved a comprehensive reform of the NYSC scheme aimed at transforming it into a modern, civilian-led and skills-driven institution.
Among the approved reforms is the replacement of the military-appointed Director-General with a civilian who will head the scheme operationally, marking one of the most significant changes in the history of the NYSC.
The reforms form part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to modernise the national service programme, deepen youth empowerment, promote local content and align the scheme with Nigeria’s current economic and developmental priorities.
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