Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of Youth Development, has made clarification over misconception that as part of extensive changes authorised for the 53-year-old program, the Federal Government intended to replace the NYSC uniform which are traditional khaki outfit with locally made Adire.
Speaking on Channels Television, recall that Ayodele Olawande previously said the government plans to replace the NYSC uniform with Adire to promote local textile production and ensure government spending benefits the Nigerian economy.
However, as Nigerians shared their opinions on Adire replacing Khaki, Olawande offered a clarification.
In a statement published via his official X handle, the minister clarified that reports suggesting that Adire is to replace the NYSC uniform misrepresented his remarks on Channels Television.
He explained that he mentioned Adire and Ankara during the interview only as examples of proposals under consideration as part of the ongoing reform of the scheme.
He added that “No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”
“My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform,” he said.
Speaking further, Olawande claimed that the government is considering options that “tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride.”
Additionally he said any final decision would be guided by extensive stakeholder consultations and what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.
Backstory…
As part of a broader reform package aimed at strengthening the programme and revitalising Nigeria’s textile industry, the Federal Government has announced plans to replace the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) iconic khaki uniform with locally produced Adire fabric.
Ayodele Olawande earlier announced the plan during an interview on The Morning Brief on Channels Television on Thursday, saying the initiative would ensure government spending supports local manufacturers.
“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,” Olawande said.
