The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has clarified that the Federal Government has not approved Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps, saying his earlier remarks on the issue were misunderstood.
The clarification followed widespread media reports suggesting that the minister had announced the replacement of the NYSC’s iconic khaki uniform with Adire during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday.
In a statement posted on his official social media account hours after the interview, Olawande explained that he merely mentioned Adire and Ankara as examples of proposals currently being considered as part of the ongoing reform of the NYSC scheme.
According to the minister, “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 further clarified, “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.”
Olawande stressed that the Federal Government is still evaluating various options for any potential redesign, with emphasis on professional appearance, durability, functionality, affordability, national identity, and support for local industries.
According to him, “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.”
During his earlier interview on Channels Television, the minister had responded to a question about local production by saying, “It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun; we have them in Kwara; we have textile industries. Let’s put our money back into the country.”
His remarks were widely interpreted as confirmation that Adire had already been adopted as the new NYSC uniform, prompting the subsequent clarification.
The minister also appealed to Nigerians not to allow discussions surrounding the proposed uniform to distract from the broader objectives of the ongoing NYSC reform programme.
He explained that the reforms are designed to make the scheme more relevant by improving the employability of corps members, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery, and creating a smoother transition from education into productive careers.
According to Olawande, “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.
