The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) iconic khaki uniform with locally made Adire fabric as part of a sweeping reform of the scheme aimed at promoting Nigerian textile production and boosting the local economy.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. According to the minister, the decision is intended to ensure government spending supports indigenous manufacturers rather than foreign suppliers.

“It’s Adire. Adire is being produced in Nigeria… Let’s put our money back into the country,” the minister said.

Beyond the new uniform, the reforms will also see corps members increasingly posted according to their academic qualifications, while deployment policies are expected to take security considerations into account. Reports by Punch, Vanguard, and The Guardian indicate that the reforms are part of the most significant overhaul of the NYSC since its establishment in 1973.

The proposed switch from khaki to Adire has already sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians debating whether the change will preserve the NYSC’s long-standing identity or usher in a new era for the national service scheme.

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