The Federal Government has approved a new policy that will make the submission of an academic thesis or dissertation a compulsory requirement for all participants of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, invoking provisions in Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, gave the approval as part of a wider reform aimed at strengthening the scheme’s contribution to national development.Under the new directive, prospective corps members will be required to submit copies of their final-year research projects or theses during registration for the service year.
The move, according to government officials, is designed to create a central repository of intellectual works that can be harnessed for policy formulation, innovation, and research purposes.The NYSC management is expected to develop guidelines for the collection, documentation, and use of the submitted academic works. Authorities also hinted that the database would be made accessible to relevant institutions, government agencies, and private sector players for research and developmental initiatives.
The reform marks one of the most significant changes to the NYSC scheme in recent years, with the government insisting that it will deepen the intellectual value of the programme while aligning it with national priorities.