Education Minister Tunji Alausa has announced that compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Park (NERD) is now a mandatory prerequisite for participation in or exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This directive aims to eliminate certificate racketeering and ensure the integrity of academic records across the country.
Beyond the NYSC, compliance is now a condition for accessing services from major agencies, including TETFund, NUC, and the Industrial Training Fund. Alausa described NERD as a strategic reform instrument anchored on transparency and accountability, requiring all accredited tertiary institutions to integrate with the system.
The platform serves as a national digital infrastructure designed to secure, standardize, and authenticate academic records. Key components include a national credential number and a federated repository, allowing for real-time verification of student data and qualifications nationwide.
Significant progress has been made within just four months of enforcement, with the platform already onboarding over 350 institutions. Current data shows nearly 100,000 digital student submissions and the enrollment of over 133,000 students and 6,800 lecturers.
To support this massive digital transition, more than 1,000 digital service centers have been established through collaborations with Nigerian tech entrepreneurs. These centers are bolstered by 655 focal persons stationed across the country to assist with the onboarding process.
The Minister emphasized that academic certificates represent a “national guarantee” of standards. He highlighted the government’s recent success in cracking down on “degree mills” in neighboring countries, noting that individuals with illegal certificates have been purged from the civil service.
To encourage academic excellence alongside data integrity, Alausa announced the NERD annual national knowledge prize. Outstanding undergraduate and postgraduate theses will be eligible for significant rewards, ranging from N5 million to N20 million.
Tertiary institutions are now urged to prioritize digital capacity and establish robust internal verification systems. By designating competent personnel and complying with NERD, schools will play a vital role in maintaining the long-term credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
