FG makes NERD compliance compulsory for NYSC mobilisation, exemption

The federal government has made compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Park (NERD) a mandatory requirement for graduates seeking mobilisation or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Tunji Alausa, minister of education, announced the directive on Thursday in Abuja during a national capacity-building programme for representatives of tertiary institutions.

According to him, the policy is part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening institutional accountability and tackling academic certificate fraud.

NERD was established in 2023 following widespread public concern over certificate racketeering. The digital platform is designed to manage, preserve and verify educational records across Nigeria in collaboration with both government agencies and private sector partners.

Alausa explained that compliance with the system will not only affect NYSC mobilisation but will also be required by key education and training agencies.

He listed organisations such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as bodies mandated to enforce the policy as a condition for accessing their services.

The minister described NERD as a major reform tool built on transparency, traceability and accountability in the management of academic records.

He added that the National Credential Verification Service, a component of the platform, will create a digital footprint for every academic certificate issued by accredited Nigerian institutions.

According to him, the government intends to strictly enforce compliance to eliminate credential falsification and reduce disputes over academic records.

Alausa said the platform serves as a strategic national infrastructure for securing, standardising, digitising and authenticating academic records across post-secondary and tertiary institutions.

He revealed that within four months of enforcement, the platform had already processed nearly 100,000 digital student submissions and onboarded more than 350 universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education for real-time verification.

The minister also disclosed that over 133,000 students and about 6,800 lecturers are currently registered on the platform, with support from more than 655 designated focal persons nationwide.

In addition, more than 1,000 digital service centres have been created through partnerships with Nigerian technology entrepreneurs.

Alausa stressed that protecting the integrity of academic certificates is essential to maintaining public confidence in Nigeria’s education system.

He recalled that before the current administration came into office, a whistleblower exposed a trend of Nigerians obtaining questionable degrees from institutions in the Republic of Benin, some of which allegedly issued PhD certificates within six months.

According to him, the federal government conducted investigations and has since stopped the practice, adding that individuals found with such illegal certificates have been removed from the civil and public service.

To further promote academic excellence, the minister announced the creation of the NERD Annual National Knowledge Prize and Award Programme. The initiative will reward outstanding undergraduate, master’s and doctoral theses with prizes ranging from N5 million to N20 million.

He urged tertiary institutions to strengthen internal verification systems, appoint qualified personnel and invest in digital capacity development to support the initiative.

Also speaking at the event, Tunji Ariyomo, chief executive officer of NERD, said proper documentation of Nigeria’s academic output is critical for knowledge development.

He noted that the platform records academic projects, theses and dissertations alongside the details of supervisors, co supervisors and departmental heads, thereby promoting accountability and improving the quality of academic supervision.

Ariyomo added that the system also addresses copyright and intellectual property concerns by ensuring proper recognition and protection of academic work produced by students, lecturers and institutions.