The Federal Government has rolled out a major policy change making thesis or project submission compulsory for all graduates seeking mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, relying on Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, approved the enforcement of the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD). A circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, stated that graduates must now provide proof of NERD compliance before they can be mobilised or exempted from NYSC.
The directive means students from Ebonyi tertiary institutions—including Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, and other higher institutions in the state—will be required to upload their final year projects or theses to the national repository before they can join the NYSC scheme.
From October 6, 2025, no graduate from these Ebonyi institutions or from overseas will be cleared for service without meeting this requirement. The policy, however, does not affect corps members already serving or those enrolled before the enforcement date.
For Ebonyi graduates, the move has two major implications:
- Tighter Quality Control – Students and supervisors in Ebonyi institutions will now be more accountable, since each project uploaded will bear the names of the student, supervisor(s), Head of Department, and the institution. This will likely improve the quality of supervision and research output in the state.
- Revenue Opportunities – President Tinubu also approved a monetisation and reward framework, meaning Ebonyi students and their lecturers could potentially earn income from their academic works once deposited in the NERD platform.
Speaking on the policy, NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima explained that the directive is not only about authentication but also about raising the overall standard of Nigeria’s academic system.
With Ebonyi State producing a growing number of graduates each year, this reform directly affects the state’s higher institutions. It is expected to reduce certificate fraud, enhance academic credibility, and provide Ebonyi graduates with global visibility for their intellectual contributions.
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