In a landmark decision that will affect thousands of graduates across Nigeria and abroad, the Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new requirement for all Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Beginning October 6, 2025, all graduates must submit their final academic projects, theses, or dissertations to the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) before they can be mobilized or exempted from national service.
The policy, announced in a joint circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and the NYSC Directorate Headquarters, represents one of the most sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s education sector in recent years.
NERD is an electronic platform and a one-stop shop for the national management, administration, and preservation of education data, records, documents and audio-visual assets. It shall operate as a set of new services to address specific challenges in the education sector.
These include the provision of a central reference point for data consistency covering every aspect of post-secondary education for national planning; perpetual preservation of academic reports and publications; enhancement of the quality of academic reports nationwide through outright elimination of plagiarism and the promotion of attribution; fostering of inter-institution collaboration and positive competition; mitigation of capital flight from previous dependence upon foreign products and services in education data management; the establishment of the Nigerian index of academic publications as a national flagship; a central national repository for equitable access to lecture notes and materials; and, the decisive launch of a systemic quality assurance check nationwide to curtail academic fraud which threatens the integrity of the education sector due to the activities of merchants of fake degrees, ‘arrangee’ qualifications, phoney certificates, bogus unearned honours from unaccredited institutions and diploma mills.
Compliance Requirement for the National Databank (Repository)
Deposit of theses, dissertations, and project reports in the National Databank by students is obligatory in Nigeria. Following the Declaration of Effectiveness, the approved stipulations for mandatory submission of academic outputs (project reports, theses, dissertations, term papers, etc) as provided in Sections 2.3, 4.3(1), and 7.6.11(c), among others, of the approved National Policy for the NERD Programme has become an obligatory requirement in Nigeria from the end of the early pre-digitization period.
The Federal Ministry of Education, with the support of the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, and other key stakeholders will be leading this unprecedented digitalization and the digitization of every single past and present academic record, report and publications ever generated in any of our institutions whether public or private, whether military or civilian. This remains the most audacious attempt ever to aggregate all records and knowledge, past and present, ever produced or generated in our tertiary institutions and post-secondary schools. Through the NERD project, Nigeria will have organic control of its data and its stacks of knowledge in its strategic national interest and for the purpose of economic development, national security, national prestige, and for the benefit of today and future generations of Nigerians.
What the New Policy Entails
Under the new directive, every Nigerian graduate—whether trained locally or in foreign institutions—must:
- Upload their academic research output (project, thesis, or dissertation) to the NERD portal.
- Verify the submission with their National Identification Number (NIN).
- Obtain a NERD Compliance Number/Reference Code, which must be provided during NYSC online registration.
The mobilization process has therefore shifted from a single-stage submission (Senate/Academic Board-approved list) to a dual process that requires both:
- Institutional clearance (first submission), and
- Personal NERD upload (second submission).
Failure to complete either will disqualify a graduate from mobilization or exemption.
Why the Policy Was Introduced
The Federal Government stated that the move is aimed at addressing three major national concerns:
- Academic Integrity: By creating a central repository of research works, the system will make it harder for plagiarism and duplication of projects to thrive.
- Knowledge Preservation: Nigeria will build a national databank of academic works that policymakers, researchers, and industries can access.
- Innovation and Development: The repository will serve as a bridge between academic research and practical national problem-solving.
In the words of the Ministry of Education’s spokesperson, “This is not just about NYSC. It is about protecting the intellectual property of Nigerian students and ensuring that their research contributes to the nation’s growth.”
Students and Graduates
Reactions among graduates have been mixed. Many PCMs welcomed the move, describing it as an opportunity to safeguard their intellectual work. Others, however, expressed anxiety over potential technical barriers.
A PCM from the University of Lagos told reporters, “It’s a good idea, but the government must make sure the portal works smoothly. Uploading large files in Nigeria can be very frustrating.”
Universities
Institutions have raised concerns about capacity. University ICT directors warn that without adequate infrastructure, the system may crash during peak periods. They also emphasised the need for proper sensitisation to avoid confusion.
Education Experts
Policy analysts have described the decision as “long overdue.” They point out that many advanced countries already maintain national databases of theses and dissertations. However, experts caution that Nigeria must prepare for challenges in digital storage, bandwidth, and long-term sustainability.
Background: NYSC and Its Evolution
The NYSC scheme, established in 1973, was designed to foster unity and integration after the Nigerian Civil War by deploying graduates to states other than their own. Over the years, the scheme has undergone various reforms, including:
- Biometric registration for mobilisation.
- Online call-up letters to reduce manual processing.
- Relocation policies for married women and graduates with health conditions.
The current reform marks the first time academic submissions have been directly tied to mobilisation, linking education policy with the NYSC’s operational framework.
The Submission Process Explained
The Federal Ministry of Education provided a simplified process for compliance:
- Prepare Your Academic Work – Final copy in PDF format.
- NIN Verification – Ensure NIN matches school records.
- Visit NERD Portal – Create an account with personal and academic details.
- Upload Project/Thesis/Dissertation – Fill required fields (title, supervisor, year, institution).
- Receive Compliance Receipt – Download and keep both digital and printed copies.
- Link with NYSC Portal – Enter NERD compliance code during NYSC registration.
The government further clarified that even graduates applying for exemption (due to age or other reasons) must still complete the NERD submission.
Implementation Timeline
- October 6, 2025: Policy takes effect.
- Batch C 2025 PCMs will be the first set affected.
- Those already serving or mobilised before this date are exempted.
The Ministry urged institutions to begin sensitisation immediately and warned that no PCM will be cleared without NERD compliance.
Potential Challenges
While the policy has been praised for its vision, several challenges could hinder smooth implementation:
- Digital Divide: Many rural areas lack reliable internet connectivity.
- File Sizes: Academic works, especially at the postgraduate level, can exceed upload limits.
- Portal Downtime: With thousands of submissions expected simultaneously, server overload is a significant concern.
- Awareness: Many graduates may not learn about the policy early enough, leading to mobilisation delays.
Education activists have therefore called for a robust helpdesk system and offline submission alternatives.
What It Means for the Future
For graduates, the new policy adds another layer of responsibility but also a chance to preserve their academic contributions. For Nigeria, it represents a step toward digitisation, transparency, and better use of intellectual capital.
If fully implemented, the NERD repository could become a national library of knowledge, helping future generations of scholars and serving as a foundation for homegrown solutions in science, technology, agriculture, and social development.
In summary
The Federal Government’s directive on mandatory NERD submission marks a turning point in both the NYSC scheme and Nigeria’s education sector. By making project/thesis uploads a prerequisite for mobilisation, the government hopes to protect intellectual property, strengthen academic integrity, and build a repository of knowledge for national development.
As the October 6 deadline approaches, all eyes will be on how smoothly the transition unfolds—and whether Nigeria can truly harness this opportunity to align education, technology, and national service in one bold step forward.
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