The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that the Federal Government has not approved Adire as the new official uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), following widespread public reactions to comments he made earlier on Thursday.
In a statement shared on his official X account, the minister explained that reports claiming the government had adopted Adire to replace the traditional khaki uniform misrepresented his remarks during an interview on Channels Television's The Morning Brief.
Olawande stated that although he mentioned Adire and Ankara during the interview, they were merely examples of proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing reforms of the NYSC scheme.
He stressed that no final decision has been reached regarding the choice of fabric or the design of a new uniform.
"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," he said.
According to the minister, the government is evaluating several options that meet key requirements, including a professional appearance, a distinctive national identity, durability, functionality, affordability, and the ability to promote national pride.
He added that any final decision would be based on extensive consultations with stakeholders and what would best serve the interests of both the NYSC and the nation.
Olawande also appealed to Nigerians not to allow discussions surrounding the proposed uniform change to distract attention from the broader reforms currently being introduced to strengthen the NYSC.
He explained that the reform agenda is aimed at making the scheme more relevant to present-day realities by improving the employability of corps members, encouraging entrepreneurship, promoting national unity, enhancing service delivery, and easing 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.
Earlier, reports had suggested that the Federal Government planned to replace the NYSC's traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire as part of major reforms approved for the 53-year-old scheme.
During his interview on Channels Television, Olawande had responded, "It's Adire," while explaining that the proposal was intended to support local textile production and ensure government spending benefits the Nigerian economy.
The proposed uniform change is one of several reforms contained in the comprehensive restructuring of the NYSC approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday. Other reforms include skills-based deployment of corps members, the introduction of civilian operational leadership for the scheme, and proposed amendments to the NYSC Act.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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