The Federal Government (FG) has announced plans to replace the traditional khaki uniform worn by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with Adire fabric as part of ongoing reforms aimed at promoting local production and strengthening Nigeria’s textile industry.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
According to the minister, the proposed change forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to ensure that public spending directly supports indigenous industries and stimulates economic growth.
Olawande explained that the new NYSC uniform would be produced entirely within Nigeria, leveraging the country’s growing textile and Adire manufacturing sector.
“It’s Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” the minister said.
He noted that Adire, a traditional hand-dyed fabric with deep cultural significance, is already being produced in several states, including Ogun and Kwara, making it a suitable alternative to the current khaki uniform.
According to Olawande, the initiative is expected to provide a major boost to local textile manufacturers and artisans by creating sustained government demand for locally produced fabrics.
He added that the policy would also encourage the growth of Nigeria’s textile value chain, create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on imported materials.
The minister stressed that the reform aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting home-grown industries while preserving Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through the promotion of indigenous fabrics.
Beyond the proposed uniform change, Olawande disclosed that the government is implementing wider reforms within the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
He revealed that the NYSC deployment process would be restructured to ensure that corps members are posted in line with their academic qualifications, professional backgrounds and areas of expertise.
According to him, the new posting system is intended to maximise the contributions of corps members by placing them in organisations and institutions where their skills can be effectively utilised.
The planned reforms are expected to improve the relevance of the one-year national service programme while enhancing its contribution to national development.
If implemented, the replacement of the iconic khaki uniform with Adire would represent one of the most significant changes in the history of the NYSC since the scheme was established in 1973.
The announcement has already sparked discussions among Nigerians, with many welcoming the potential benefits for local textile producers, while others await further details on the design, implementation timeline and transition process for the new uniform.
The Federal Government has yet to announce when the Adire uniform will officially be introduced or whether the change will apply to the next batch of corps members entering the national service scheme.