Popular social media commentator, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has faulted the reported plan to replace the National Youth Service Corps khaki uniform with Adire fabric, insisting that the scheme represents all ethnic groups in the country.

The criticism followed comments credited to the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, that locally produced Adire would form part of ongoing reforms aimed at promoting indigenous manufacturing and supporting local industries.

Reacting on Thursday, VDM argued that adopting a fabric widely associated with the Yoruba people as the official NYSC uniform could generate concerns over inclusiveness in a country with diverse ethnic identities.

According to him, the national service scheme was established for every Nigerian and should reflect the country’s multicultural character rather than that of a particular ethnic group.

He maintained that any major reform affecting millions of young Nigerians should involve broad consultation and take into account the realities facing youths across the federation.

“The NYSC does not belong to one tribe. We have more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, and every decision concerning the scheme should reflect that diversity,” he said.

The development has sparked fresh conversations on social media over the future of the NYSC and the proposed reforms being championed by the Federal Government.

The ministry had said the initiative was designed to encourage local production and deepen support for indigenous textile industries as part of broader changes to the national service programme.