FG Mandates Thesis Submission for NYSC Mobilisation

The Federal Government has introduced a rule requiring all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to upload their academic theses or final-year project reports to a national repository before they can be mobilised or granted exemption. The policy takes effect on October 6, 2025.

According to an enforcement circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Bola Tinubu approved the measure under Sections 2 4 (4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act. 

The directive aligns with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), which is designed to digitise, preserve, and make accessible the academic output of Nigerian graduates.

The requirement applies to graduates of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and recognised overseas institutions.

Candidates must deposit their theses, dissertations, final-year projects, and other academic or research outputs on the NERD platform as part of NYSC documentation.

Quality Control Through Visibility

NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima said the initiative aims to lift academic standards by improving supervision and accountability. 

Because each uploaded work will display the names of both the student and supervising lecturer on a globally accessible platform, supervisors will have a stronger incentive to uphold quality. 

Galadima noted that very few lecturers would want their names attached to poorly produced work and added that stronger supervision supports lecturers’ eligibility for earned allowances.

In practical terms, submission to NERD becomes a prerequisite for NYSC mobilisation or exemption processing. Faculties and departments will need clear workflows for verifying, formatting, and uploading student work on time to avoid delays in service year timelines.

Public Benefit and Long-Term Impact

For the public, the repository will build a national library of dissertations and projects, improving transparency, reducing duplication, and supporting researchers and innovators. By tying NYSC eligibility to research accountability, the government seeks to protect academic integrity and preserve Nigeria’s intellectual output for future use.