Minister Clarifies Adire Not Yet Approved as New NYSC Uniform

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 (NYSC).

In a statement shared on his official X account on Thursday, Olawande said reports claiming that Adire had been adopted to replace the NYSC’s iconic khaki uniform misrepresented comments he made during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

According to the minister, his reference to Adire and Ankara during the interview was merely to highlight proposals being considered as part of the ongoing reform of the scheme.

“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.

Olawande explained that no final decision has been taken on the fabric or design of a new uniform, stressing that the government is evaluating options that reflect professionalism, national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness and national pride.

He added that any decision would be based on extensive stakeholder consultations and what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.

The minister also urged Nigerians not to allow discussions over the proposed uniform to distract from the broader reforms aimed at making the scheme more relevant.

“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,” he said.

The clarification comes hours after Olawande’s interview sparked widespread reactions following reports that the Federal Government had approved locally produced Adire to replace the NYSC’s traditional khaki uniform as part of the comprehensive reforms recently approved by the Federal Executive Council. Those reforms also include skills-based deployment of corps members, civilian operational leadership and proposed amendments to the NYSC Act.