Adire: This isn’t going to work – VDM kicks against alleged move to impose Yoruba fabric on NYSC
Social Media Critic Opposes NYSC Uniform Change
Martins Vincent Otse, a prominent social media commentator known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has expressed strong opposition to a proposed change in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform. The Federal Government’s plan, announced by Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande, involves replacing the traditional khaki attire with Adire, a fabric associated with the Yoruba ethnic group.
In an interview on Channels TV on Thursday, Olawande stated that the move is part of ongoing reforms aimed at promoting local manufacturing. He emphasized the importance of supporting domestic products and fostering a sense of national identity among Nigerian youth.
VDM responded to the announcement on his Facebook page, arguing that the NYSC program does not belong to any single ethnic group and questioned the appropriateness of using a Yoruba fabric as a nationwide uniform.
“The Adire that they want to use to replace the NYSC khaki is a fabric that is associated with the Yoruba people,” he stated. “We have more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria. Yoruba is one of the largest, but we also have many other tribes.”
He criticized the decision, asking, “How can you wake up one morning and say all these tribes should use Adire as the NYSC uniform? Does that even make sense to you? To the Minister of Youth Development, this is not going to work. Have you traveled across the country to know what the youths are going through?”
The discussion surrounding the proposed uniform change has sparked significant debate over national representation and the cultural implications of such a decision.