FG Makes Thesis Submission Mandatory for NYSC Mobilisation
The Federal Government has introduced a new requirement for Nigerian graduates, mandating the submission of their thesis or final-year project reports as part of the process for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation.
In a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the directive enforces compliance with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
Beginning October 6, 2025, no graduate from Nigerian or foreign institutions will be eligible for NYSC mobilisation or exemption without proof of compliance.
The government said the measure is aimed at safeguarding academic integrity and curbing certificate racketeering by ensuring that every graduate’s academic work is traceable.
By depositing their thesis or project reports in the national repository, officials explained, a digital record will be created to serve as both a quality assurance tool and a timestamp for scholarly output.
The policy also seeks to unify and digitise academic records across institutions. Universities, polytechnics, and other tertiary schools will be required to integrate their data systems with the NERD platform, enabling easier verification of academic achievements.
Interestingly, the policy includes a monetisation feature, under which deposited academic works can generate revenue, offering potential lifetime rewards for students and their supervisors.
Government officials stressed that the directive will apply only to graduates from October 6 onward and will not affect those already serving or those mobilised before the enforcement date.
While the move has been welcomed in some quarters as a step towards transparency and accountability in higher education, concerns remain over the capacity of institutions to integrate into the repository system, as well as questions around privacy, intellectual property, and how the monetisation scheme will be implemented.
The Ministry of Education and the NYSC are expected to release further guidelines in the coming weeks to help institutions and prospective corps members adjust to the new requirements.
