The Federal Government has justified its plans to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, in an interview he granted Channels Television said the move is aimed at reviving Nigeria’s textile industry, create jobs and keep government spending within the local economy.
The minister said Adire was locally produced in several states, including Ogun State and Kwara State, adding that its replacement with current khaki uniform would boost indigenous manufacturers.
“It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have the textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said.
He added that government intended to align corps members’ postings with their academic qualifications to make the service year more productive, saying: “After leaving camp, you are not just posted to a school because NYSC wants you there, but because of the process you followed in camp. That will provide a framework for where you are posted.”
He explained that graduates trained as teachers and other professionals would be deployed based on information gathered during the orientation camp rather than through random postings.
According to him, government is considering posting corps members to regions where they studied or are more familiar with.
“If you have an interest in serving in the North-East, that’s fine. But if you don’t, instead of posting and later redeploying you, we are looking at how people can serve in geographical areas they are familiar with while ensuring the scheme remains impactful,” he said.
