The Federal Government has introduced a new directive making compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) compulsory for graduates seeking mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the policy as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s education system and tackle the rising cases of certificate fraud.
Under the new rule, graduates from tertiary institutions will be required to upload and verify their academic records, including final-year projects, theses or dissertations, on the NERD platform before they can be mobilised for the mandatory one-year national service.
According to the minister, the directive also applies to graduates seeking exemption certificates from the NYSC scheme.
He explained that the digital repository is designed to serve as a central database for academic records, enabling authorities to verify the authenticity of certificates issued by Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.
Alausa noted that the move became necessary following recent revelations of fake academic qualifications obtained from unaccredited institutions, particularly outside the country.
He added that the new requirement would help standardise academic documentation, improve transparency in the education sector, and prevent individuals with questionable credentials from participating in the national service programme.
Education stakeholders believe the policy will further strengthen efforts by the Federal Government to sanitise the nation’s education system and restore public confidence in academic qualifications.
Detailed guidelines on the implementation of the new directive are expected to be released by the relevant authorities in due course.
