The Federal Government has introduced major reforms to modernise agricultural education in Nigeria, aiming to boost food security and create more jobs for young people.
According to a report by Mediaplusng.com, the initiative—jointly driven by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture—focuses on updating agricultural curricula and encouraging more youth participation in the sector. The new framework seeks to align learning with real-world agricultural practices and the country’s growing demand for skilled manpower.
Speaking during the official presentation of the Agricultural Curriculum Framework Reform, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, describes the move as a key step in repositioning agriculture as a foundation for national development. He notes that the reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a technology-driven agricultural sector.
Dr. Alausa expresses concern over the low enrollment in agricultural programmes across tertiary institutions, despite the government’s investment in the sector. He reveals that almost 48 percent of available admission slots for agricultural courses in the 2024 UTME remain unfilled. “This is a serious gap, especially in a field that should secure Nigeria’s food supply and make us an export leader,” he says.
However, vocational and technical agricultural training is gaining strong interest among young Nigerians. Over 210,000 applicants recently applied for livestock farming programmes under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training scheme, ranking just behind garment-making courses.
Dr. Alausa adds that this shows youths are eager to gain practical agricultural skills, but that the outdated curriculum in higher institutions has not kept up with modern realities. He reaffirms the government’s commitment to updating agricultural education to meet industry needs and promote economic diversification.
Citing the Republic of Benin’s transformation from exporting raw cotton to earning $12 billion from processed products, he says Nigeria aims to achieve similar results through practical education and curriculum reform.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi, also stresses that achieving food sovereignty requires an education system that blends theory with innovation. “To ensure food security, our curriculum must prepare graduates for real agricultural enterprise and industrial growth,” he says in a statement reported by Mediaplusng.com
