President Bola Tinubu has mandated compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) policy for NYSC mobilisation or exemption, effective October 6, 2025.
The directive, aligned with the NYSC Act, was announced by Secretary to the Government, Senator George Akume.
Policy Details
The NERD policy requires Nigerian graduates, home or abroad, to deposit academic outputs like theses or projects.
This ensures authenticity, tracks academic progress, and timestamps scholarship. The rule applies to new applicants, not current corps members.
Quality Assurance
NERD aims to elevate academic standards by linking students’ work to their supervisors and institutions on a digital platform.
“This will push lecturers to improve supervision,” said NERD spokesperson Haula Galadima. It also combats certificate fraud and honors abuse.
Monetisation Incentive
Tinubu approved a system to let students and lecturers earn lifelong revenue from their academic deposits. Each institution must create its own repository, fostering collaboration where silos once existed.
Data Integration
The National Identity Management Commission and other agencies will support NERD through data-sharing APIs, aiding validation and onboarding.
Annual compliance reports are required from institutions by March 30, starting in 2026.
Why It Matters
The policy tackles decades of wasted intellectual resources, like unused theses, which could advance agriculture, medicine, and governance.
NERD ensures graduates contribute to Nigeria’s knowledge pool, boosting national productivity.
Implementation
The Education Minister, Tunji Alausa, proposed the policy to curb fraud and enhance academic credibility.
It encourages accountability, as lecturers’ names appear alongside students’ work, incentivizing high-quality supervision.
Looking Ahead
By linking NYSC to NERD, Nigeria aims to safeguard its intellectual assets and build a robust academic framework, driving innovation and trust in education for 2025.
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