The Federal Government has unveiled a major reform of agricultural education in tertiary institutions across the country, introducing a new practical-focused curriculum aimed at equipping students with industry-relevant skills and improving employability.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the development while receiving the report of the National Implementation Committee on the Review and Development of Agricultural Curricula for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
Under the new framework, agricultural training will move away from the traditional model that emphasised classroom learning. The revised structure allocates 80 per cent of training to practical activities and 20 per cent to theoretical instruction, a significant shift from the previous 70 per cent theory and 30 per cent practical arrangement.
Alausa said the reform was designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of the agricultural sector, ensuring that graduates leave school with hands-on competencies that can be applied directly in farming, agribusiness and related industries.
The minister explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is intended to reposition agriculture as a skills-driven sector capable of creating employment opportunities and supporting economic growth.
He stressed that the success of the initiative would depend not only on curriculum development but also on effective implementation, including adequate training for lecturers, improved facilities and strong collaboration among educational institutions, industry players and other stakeholders.
Providing details of the review, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, said the exercise produced 70 new and revised training instruments. These include 36 National Diploma and Higher National Diploma curricula, three Nigeria Certificate in Education curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards.
According to him, 27 of the occupational standards were developed from scratch, while four existing standards were updated to reflect current industry realities and technological advancements.
Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would work closely with NBTE, tertiary institutions and private sector partners to ensure the reforms translate into meaningful learning experiences in classrooms, laboratories and farms.
He expressed confidence that the new curriculum would help close the skills gap in the agricultural sector and contribute to unlocking Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential through a more competent and productive workforce.
