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), saying his earlier remarks on the subject were misunderstood.
The clarification followed 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 said he merely cited Adire and Ankara as examples of proposals being considered as part of the ongoing reform of the NYSC scheme.
“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 said.
“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.”
The minister stressed that the government was evaluating different options based on professional appearance, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, national identity and the promotion of local industry.
“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,” he said.
“No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”
During the Channels Television interview, Olawande had responded to questions about whether any new uniform would be produced locally, 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.”
In his clarification, however, the minister urged Nigerians not to allow the debate over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the ongoing NYSC reforms.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at making the scheme more relevant 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.
