President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new rule. From October 6, no graduate will join or get exemption from the National Youth Service Corps without proof of compliance with the National Education Repository and Databank policy.
The directive came through a circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The policy requires every graduate to submit academic work such as projects and theses to the national database. This helps fight certificate fraud and protects Nigeria’s intellectual resources.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed in March 2025 that compliance with NERD is mandatory.
NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima explained the process. Each submission must include:
- Full name of the student
- Name of supervisor and co-supervisor if available
- Name of the Head of Department
- Institution and department details
Galadima added that this system holds both students and lecturers accountable. If a lecturer’s name appears on a weak project, it affects their reputation. She said this will push lecturers to supervise better and improve the quality of academic work nationwide.
The new policy sets a clear target: improve academic standards, secure intellectual property, and curb fraud.
