Daniel Otera
On October 6, 2025, Nigeria will implement a transformative policy that mandates all tertiary institution graduates to submit their theses, dissertations, or final-yea r project reports to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) as a requirement for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization or exemption. Approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and supported by Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act, this directive was communicated through a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. NERD is set to become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s digital transformation in education, centralizing academic outputs, combating fraud, and introducing a new model for academic monetization.
The Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) is a state-of-the-art digital platform designed to centralize and authenticate academic outputs. According to the Federal Ministry of Education, NERD is envisioned as the “national academic databank for Nigeria’s education sector.” The platform is composed of several components, including the Electronic System for the Management and Administration of Thesis (eSMAT), the Nigeria National Research Repository (2NR), and the National Credential Management and Verification System (NCMVS). Together, these elements aim to create a secure and accessible repository for academic work, ensuring that all academic outputs are verifiable and easily accessible.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, emphasized, “This platform is not just a database; it’s a tool for ensuring transparency, authenticity, and global competitiveness in Nigerian education.”
Starting in October 2025, Nigerian graduates, including those from foreign institutions, will be required to upload their final-year theses or project reports to NERD to be eligible for NYSC mobilization. This policy extends beyond Nigerian institutions to include graduates from international universities, ensuring a comprehensive approach to academic verification across all backgrounds.
According to a report from the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) in 2023, approximately 600,000 graduates are produced annually from Nigeria’s 262 universities, 135 polytechnics, and 189 colleges of education. This new requirement is expected to enhance the credibility of Nigerian graduates while streamlining the process of validating academic credentials.
NERD’s integration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) via APIs ensures that academic credentials can be cross-verified in real-time. This collaboration facilitates seamless data exchange, enabling the government, employers, and academic institutions to authenticate the credentials of graduates.
One of the most innovative aspects of the NERD policy is its academic monetization mechanism. This system allows students and lecturers to generate revenue from their academic outputs, turning intellectual contributions into valuable economic assets. “President Tinubu has approved a framework where intellectual contributions can become economic assets, rewarding creativity and research excellence,” states the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. This model is unprecedented in Africa, positioning Nigeria as a leader in academic monetization.
Globally, the creative economy has become a major driver of economic growth, contributing 3.1% to global GDP in 2022, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). In Nigeria, the creative economy is also growing rapidly. The government aims to increase the creative sector’s contribution to the GDP to $100 billion by 2030, creating over three million jobs in the process.
By monetizing academic outputs, NERD presents an opportunity for Nigerian students to generate economic value from their research. For example, a thesis on sustainable agriculture could be licensed to agribusinesses, while groundbreaking medical research could attract funding from global health organizations. This shift in perspective transforms academic work from a mere exercise into a revenue-generating asset.
The monetization model also incentivizes higher-quality academic work. With academic outputs publicly linked to students, lecturers, and institutions, there is increased pressure to produce high-caliber research. The NERD policy requires submissions to include detailed metadata, such as the names of the student, supervisor, co-supervisor, head of department, and institution, ensuring accountability at every level.
Haula Galadima, a NERD spokesperson, notes, “This transparency will push lecturers to take supervision more seriously, knowing their names are tied to the quality of the output.”
Certificate fraud has been a persistent issue in Nigeria, undermining the credibility of academic qualifications. A 2023 case involving the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) highlighted the severity of this problem, when an officer from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was arraigned for using forged academic certificates to secure a higher position.
The NERD policy aims to combat certificate fraud by ensuring that all graduates, both domestic and international, submit their academic work to a centralized, verifiable repository. This initiative will improve the academic and professional credibility of Nigerian graduates and foster greater transparency in the academic certification process.
The NERD policy aligns with global trends towards digital verification and transparency within the educational sector. By requiring all academic records to be uploaded to the NERD system, Nigeria is ensuring that its educational system is transparent, accountable, and globally competitive. This centralization of academic records will make it easier for employers, institutions, and governments to validate the credentials of Nigerian graduates, improving Nigeria’s standing in the global job market.
Despite its transformative potential, the NERD policy faces several challenges. One of the primary obstacles is Nigeria’s current digital infrastructure. According to a 2024 World Bank report, only 45% of Nigeria’s population has reliable internet access, with rural areas being particularly underserved. This digital divide poses a significant barrier to the full implementation of the policy, particularly in remote regions where internet access remains sporadic or unavailable.
Additionally, the digitization of historical academic records presents logistical challenges. Many academic records are still stored in physical formats, and converting these records into digital formats requires substantial resources. Institutional capacity is another concern, as many universities lack the necessary infrastructure or expertise to comply with NERD’s requirements.
While the monetization framework presents significant opportunities, it requires clarity on how revenues will be distributed. There are concerns about whether students from lower-income backgrounds will have equal access to these opportunities. Without transparent guidelines, the policy could inadvertently favor elite institutions, exacerbating existing inequalities in access to academic resources.
The NERD policy is not just about NYSC mobilization; it represents a step toward modernizing Nigeria’s education sector and creating a knowledge-driven economy. The National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) initiative is closely aligned with Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda, as outlined in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for 2020–2030. This policy, developed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, aims to position Nigeria as a leader in the digital economy by leveraging technology for national development, economic diversification, and global competitiveness.
NERD plays a vital role in this transformation by digitizing Nigeria’s education sector and centralizing academic data, which directly supports several pillars of the NDEPS. Among the key pillars, the NDEPS emphasizes the development of solid digital infrastructure, digital literacy and skills, and the adoption of indigenous content in the economy. By creating a centralized digital platform for academic outputs, NERD not only enhances access to credible educational resources but also fosters innovation and collaboration across institutions, ultimately contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s knowledge economy.
Additionally, the integration of NERD with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and its ability to provide real-time verification of academic credentials reflect the policy’s focus on strengthening the nation’s digital infrastructure. Through NERD, Nigeria is positioning itself to attract global academic and research collaborations, thereby enhancing the country’s digital presence and leadership in Africa.
The policy also redefines the role of NYSC. Traditionally a community service program, NYSC could become a platform for identifying and nurturing talent. By linking mobilization to verified academic outputs, the government is ensuring that only qualified graduates enter the program, which could enhance its impact on national development.
The success of the NERD policy will depend on effective execution. The government must prioritize infrastructure investments to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all institutions and students have equal access to the necessary tools for digital education. Additionally, the policy’s global ambitions will require international collaboration to increase the visibility of Nigerian research and attract partnerships with global academic databases like JSTOR and Google Scholar.
The NERD initiative represents a visionary approach to transforming Nigeria’s academic ecosystem. By harnessing digital innovation, combating certificate fraud, and monetizing intellectual capital, it has the potential to elevate Nigeria’s education sector, empower graduates economically, and position the country as a leader in African academia.