The Federal Government is moving to transform how agriculture is taught in Nigeria’s polytechnics and colleges of education, with practical training set to take up 80 per cent of the curriculum. The reform is designed to move agricultural education beyond classrooms and certificates, giving students practical skills they can immediately apply in farming, agro-processing and agribusiness.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative on Thursday while receiving the report of the committee that reviewed agricultural curricula for polytechnics and colleges of education. Alausa said the reform aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to make agriculture a productive, skills-driven sector capable of creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
Under the new framework, the previous 70 per cent theoretical and 30 per cent practical structure will be reversed. Students will now receive 80 per cent practical training and 20 per cent theoretical instruction. According to Alausa, the objective is to ensure that graduates leave school with abilities they can immediately deploy in the agricultural value chain.
“The ultimate objective is to ensure that young Nigerians acquire practical skills that can be applied beyond the classroom,” he said.
The minister said the reform would also address the disconnect between what students learn in school and the skills demanded by the labour market. He noted that agriculture should increasingly be viewed as a productive industry rather than simply an academic discipline.
Alausa added that the reviewed curricula and national occupational standards would equip young Nigerians with technical competencies needed to participate effectively in the agricultural economy. He, however, warned that the success of the agriculture education reform would depend on proper implementation.
He called for wider sensitisation involving academics, teachers, industry players and other stakeholders. The minister also stressed the need to train teachers and provide institutions with the facilities required to deliver practical-oriented agricultural education.
Earlier, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, praised the committee for completing the curriculum review.
She said the exercise involved the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, the Skills Council, industry representatives and academics. According to her, the collaboration helped align the new curricula with the skills requirements of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Presenting the committee’s report, NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, disclosed that the exercise produced 36 new and reviewed National Diploma and Higher National Diploma curricula. It also produced three National Certificate in Education curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards.
Bugaje said 27 of the occupational standards were newly developed, while four existing standards were reviewed. He confirmed that the assignment had been completed and the resulting documents approved by the relevant regulatory bodies.
The complete curricula, he added, would be formally unveiled at a later event. Alausa assured Nigerians that the ministry would continue working with NBTE, educational institutions, industry and other stakeholders to ensure the reform moves beyond policy documents.
He said the ultimate goal was to produce a stronger agricultural workforce and give Nigerian youths practical, market-ready skills capable of turning the country’s agricultural potential into sustainable economic opportunities.
