FEC Makes Thesis Upload to NERD Mandatory for All NYSC Prospective Corps Members

Starting with the 2025 Batch C stream, graduates must upload their final-year thesis to the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) to qualify for NYSC mobilisation.

In a landmark decision set to reshape Nigeria’s academic and youth service landscape, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new directive making it mandatory for all graduates seeking mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to upload their final-year thesis or project to the Nigerian Education Repository and Databank (NERD) before registration.

According to the new guideline, this requirement will take effect from the 2025 Batch C stream, marking the beginning of a digital verification process aimed at standardising educational records nationwide.

What This Means for Graduates

From the 2025 Batch C, every graduate must complete the thesis upload process and obtain a NERD clearance slip, which will be required during registration at the NYSC orientation camp.

Any graduate who fails to complete this upload and verification process will not be cleared for NYSC mobilisation, the statement emphasized.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Upload Your Final-Year Thesis to NERD

To make the process smooth and efficient, here’s how prospective corps members can complete their thesis upload on the NERD platform:

1. Visit the NERD portal.
2. Click on “Preliminary Upload for Thesis/Project.”
3. Run the AI Plagiarism Check and review your similarity score.
4. Use the AI Learning Recommendation Tool to access related study materials and references.
5. Submit to Supervisor for Review.
6. Your supervisor and external examiners will receive SMS or email notifications for approval.
7. Once approved, reduce your file size to 10MB or less and click Submit.
8. A National Document Number (NDN) and Submission Certificate will be automatically generated.
9. Support the databank with a small one-time contribution and print your submission certificate.

The submission certificate serves as proof that your thesis or project has been successfully uploaded and verified in the NERD database.

Why This Step Matters

The Federal Government says the new process is part of a nationwide education record reform to preserve academic research, promote integrity, and create a centralised verification system for graduates.

NERD will serve as a digital repository that stores and authenticates academic work, ensuring that research from Nigerian universities and polytechnics is both accessible and verifiable.

Without the NERD clearance slip, NYSC registration will be incomplete, potentially disqualifying a graduate from participating in the scheme.

Graduates Advised to Act Early

The FEC urged all graduating students to complete the upload process well before their mobilisation period to avoid last-minute challenges.

“Completing this process early saves time and prevents last-minute stress,” the directive noted. Students are encouraged to ensure their thesis is approved and their submission certificate is printed before heading to the NYSC camp.

Bottom Line

This new digital requirement underscores Nigeria’s shift toward data-driven education management and accountability in academic documentation. As the 2025 NYSC Batch C stream approaches, prospective corps members are advised to treat this process as an essential step toward successful mobilisation.

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