NERD Registration Now Mandatory for NYSC Participation, FG Confirms

NYSC members

NERD Registration Now Mandatory for NYSC Participation, FG Confirms

Abuja, March 6, 2026 — The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that graduates whose academic records are not uploaded to the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) may be denied participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. The directive forms part of broader reforms aimed at curbing certificate fraud and ensuring the integrity and credibility of academic documentation across the country.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, during a national capacity-building programme themed “Strengthening Institutional Compliance and Academic Records Integrity”, which brought together representatives of tertiary institutions to improve the accuracy, verification, and security of academic records nationwide.

Highlighting the critical role of data in governance, Alausa said: “Data is the lifeblood of effective governance. It enables us to understand the challenges we face, design and implement effective solutions, and monitor our progress. Without data, we are flying blind. That is not what this government is about.”

The minister praised President Bola Tinubu for championing reforms that are repositioning the nation for long-term growth. “Positive transformation is laying our country on the path of sustainability,” he said.

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NERD serves as a national digital infrastructure designed to harmonise and authenticate academic credentials across tertiary institutions. The system issues national credential numbers, operates a National Credential Revocation Service, runs a National Student Clearinghouse, and maintains a federated repository of academic theses and publications, alongside a national academic indexing platform.

According to Alausa, the platform has already achieved significant progress since its launch four months ago: over 133,000 students and 6,800 lecturers are enrolled, supported by 655 focal persons nationwide. Nearly 100,000 digital student submissions have been archived, while more than 250 tertiary institutions are connected for real-time verification. The initiative has also created over 1,000 digital service centres in partnership with Nigeria Digital Entrepreneurs, generating more than 3,000 jobs.

The minister emphasised that the reform is in response to past abuses, including cases of Nigerians obtaining questionable degrees abroad in unusually short timeframes. “Some people were getting PhD certificates in just six months from universities that never existed. Today, those practices have been completely stopped, and individuals who obtained illegal certificates have been removed from the civil service,” he said.

NERD compliance is now mandatory for both individuals and institutions seeking access to various educational services, including NYSC participation. Agencies such as TETFund, NUC, NBTE, NCCE, ITF, and all accredited tertiary institutions are required to enforce compliance. The platform is designed to enhance transparency, traceability, and accountability, maintaining a national digital footprint of all academic awards in Nigeria.

Alausa also encouraged institutions to prioritise locally developed digital platforms, aligning with the Federal Government’s local content policy. Additionally, he announced the establishment of the NERD Annual National Laureate Prize and Awards Programme, recognising outstanding academic research with prizes ranging from ₦5 million to ₦20 million, with the maiden edition scheduled for November 2026.

The CEO of NERD, Engineer Tunji Ariyomo, described the initiative as a crucial step in safeguarding Nigeria’s academic knowledge and strengthening the country’s research framework. “Nations that systematically preserve and validate knowledge over time are often at the forefront of global innovation,” Ariyomo said.

By linking NERD with NYSC and other educational services, the Federal Government aims to eliminate credential falsification, reduce disputes over academic records, and ensure that Nigeria’s education system meets global standards of integrity and verification.