The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on Thursday said the Federal Government has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps, hours after his earlier comments triggered widespread reactions.
In a statement on his official X handle, Olawande said reports claiming Adire had replaced the famous khaki uniform wrongly interpreted what he said during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He explained that he mentioned Adire and Ankara only as examples of ideas being discussed as part of the ongoing NYSC reforms. He added that “No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”
“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 stated.
Olawande said the government is looking at 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.”
He added that any final decision would come after wide consultations with stakeholders and would be based on what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.
The minister also urged Nigerians not to let the debate over the proposed uniform distract from the wider reforms.
“The reforms are designed to make the Scheme more relevant to today’s realities by improving employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery, and creating a smoother 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.
Hedlyne earlier reported that the Federal Government planned to replace the NYSC’s traditional khaki uniform with locally made Adire as part of reforms approved for the 53-year-old scheme.
Speaking on Channels Television, Olawande had said, “It’s Adire,” adding that the plan was meant to support local textile production and keep government spending within Nigeria.
The proposed uniform is part of the wider NYSC reforms approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, alongside skills-based deployment of corps members, civilian leadership for the scheme and changes to the NYSC Act.
