Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, has backtracked on his earlier announcement that the federal government would replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with locally made adire fabric.
Olawande had said the government was planning to replace the current NYSC Khaki uniform with locally made adire fabrics to promote locally made products and support Nigeria’s textile industry.
It’s Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said in an interview on Channels Television.
The announcement came after the federal executive council (FEC) approved key reforms for the one-year national service programme at its meeting on Monday.
After the FEC meeting, Olawande said the council retained the one-year duration of the scheme while approving seven major reforms, including digitalisation, a change in the leadership structure from military to civilians, and a redesigned uniform.
But in a statement on his X page later on Thursday, the minister backtracked, saying his reference to Adire was only illustrative and that no fabric has been approved to replace the current NYSC khaki.
My attention has been drawn to some media reports following my brief appearance earlier this morning on Channels TV regarding the ongoing reforms of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), particularly on the issue of the proposed uniform,” he said.
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.”
The minister said the government is still weighing different options, noting that any eventual decision would be guided by extensive stakeholder engagement.
For the record, what we are considering are different options that tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride. No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design,” he said.
“As with every aspect of the ongoing NYSC reforms, any eventual decision will be guided by extensive stakeholder engagement and what best serves the interests of the Scheme and the nation.”
The minister urged Nigerians to focus on the broader objectives of the ongoing reforms, saying they are intended to improve employability, promote entrepreneurship, strengthen national integration, enhance service delivery, and ease the transition from education to productive careers.
“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 said.
