Maruf Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, has announced that compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD) is now mandatory for all participants seeking enrollment or exemption in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The digital platform, designed to authenticate academic credentials from tertiary institutions nationwide, aims to tackle the rising incidence of certificate fraud. Under the new directive, NERD verification will also be required by key educational and training agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), before offering services or approvals.
Minister Alausa explained that the move is part of a broader government effort to clamp down on fraudulent academic certificates, especially those originating from unaccredited institutions in neighboring countries such as the Republic of Benin.
“NERD compliance is now a prerequisite for NYSC participation or exemption. It will also serve as a verification requirement for other key educational agencies,” Alausa said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to academic integrity.
Observers note that the directive reinforces President Bola Tinubu’s policy to strengthen quality assurance in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, ensuring that only verified and legitimate academic credentials are recognized for official purposes.
Educational institutions have been urged to integrate their records with NERD promptly to avoid disruptions for their graduates seeking NYSC mobilization, scholarships, or other government-provided educational services.
The Ministry assured that guidance and support will be provided to institutions and students to facilitate smooth compliance with the new verification process.