The Federal Government has announced that compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) will now be mandatory for participation in or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps.
The directive is part of a broader effort to tackle certificate fraud and strengthen the integrity of academic records across Nigeria.
Minister of Education Maruf Olatunji Alausa disclosed the policy during a national programme on academic records integrity.
He explained that NERD is a digital platform designed to standardise and authenticate academic credentials from tertiary institutions.
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According to the minister, compliance with the system will now be required before graduates can participate in the NYSC programme or receive an exemption certificate.
“It is important to clarify that while NERD compliance is now a prerequisite for participation in, or exemption from, the National Youth Service Corps, enforcement extends far beyond NYSC,” he said.
Other agencies to enforce compliance
The government also stated that several regulatory agencies will require institutions to comply with the NERD system before accessing services.
Officials say the move will ensure academic records across institutions are verifiable and secure.
Thousands of student records already digitised
The Ministry of Education revealed that the NERD system has already made significant progress since its launch.
Within four months:
- Nearly 100,000 student records have been digitised
- More than 250 tertiary institutions have joined the platform
- Over 133,000 students have been enrolled
The government says the database will help eliminate credential falsification and improve transparency in Nigeria’s education sector.
