RismadarVoice Reporters, July 3, 2026
Popular social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has criticised a proposed plan to replace the traditional National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) khaki uniform with Adire fabric.
His reaction followed comments by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who disclosed during an interview on Channels Television that the proposed change forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at promoting locally manufactured products.
Reacting in a post on his Facebook page, VDM argued that the NYSC is a national institution that represents all ethnic groups in Nigeria and should not adopt a uniform associated with a particular cultural group.
He described Adire as a fabric traditionally associated with the Yoruba people and questioned the rationale for making it the official attire for corps members drawn from more than 250 ethnic groups across the country.
According to him, introducing Adire as the NYSC uniform would not reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity.
He also urged the Minister of Youth Development to focus on addressing broader challenges affecting young Nigerians rather than changing the scheme’s uniform.
“This is not going to work,” VDM said, questioning whether the government had adequately consulted young people before considering the proposal.
The Federal Government recently approved wide-ranging reforms to the NYSC, including changes to the orientation programme, deployment process and governance structure, as part of efforts to modernise the 53-year-old scheme.
