The Federal Government has clarified that it has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), following widespread reactions to earlier reports suggesting the iconic khaki outfit would be replaced.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made the clarification on Thursday, saying his earlier comments during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief had been misunderstood.
In a statement shared on his official X account, the minister explained that Adire and Ankara were only cited as examples of proposals being considered as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing reform of the NYSC, stressing that no final decision has been reached on the fabric or design of a new uniform.
“My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward during our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform,” Olawande said.
He noted that the government is still evaluating several options, with considerations including durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, professional appearance, national identity and the promotion of Nigerian culture.
According to him, any eventual decision will be based on extensive consultations with stakeholders and what best serves the interests of both the NYSC and the country.
The minister also appealed to Nigerians not to allow discussions about the proposed uniform to distract from the broader objectives of the ongoing reforms.
He explained that the reform package is aimed at making the scheme more relevant to present-day realities by improving corps members’ employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national unity, enhancing service delivery and easing the transition from school to the workplace.
“While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths and positioning the NYSC as a stronger platform for national development,” he added.
Earlier on Thursday, reports emerged that the Federal Government had approved the replacement of the NYSC’s traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire as part of the comprehensive reforms recently approved for the 53-year-old scheme.
However, Olawande’s latest clarification confirms that although a redesign of the uniform is under consideration, Adire has not been officially adopted, and consultations on the proposal are still ongoing.
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