The Federal Government has overhauled the agricultural curricula for tertiary institutions, introducing an 80 per cent practical training component aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with job-ready skills and strengthening the country’s agricultural sector.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the reform was part of the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to reposition agriculture as a skills-driven sector capable of creating productive opportunities for young Nigerians and contributing more significantly to economic growth.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa said the newly reviewed curricula would provide learners with hands-on experience and support the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Alausa spoke while receiving the report of the National Implementation Committee on the Review and Development of Agricultural Curricula for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
He described the shift from the previous 70 per cent theoretical and 30 per cent practical model to 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical training as a major step towards producing a better-equipped agricultural workforce.
According to him, the new approach is designed to ensure that young Nigerians acquire practical competencies that can be applied beyond the classroom, enabling them to participate more effectively in agriculture and related value chains.
The Minister expressed optimism that the reform would strengthen capacity in the agricultural sector, improve the quality of training and translate education into productive economic activity.
He, however, called for a comprehensive rollout of the new curricula, stressing the need to sensitise industry players, academics, teachers and other stakeholders to the rationale behind the reforms.
Alausa also emphasised the importance of training teachers and providing institutions with the resources and support required to implement the new curricula effectively.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, commended the committee for its commitment to the exercise and acknowledged the contributions of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Skills Council, industry representatives and academics.
She said the collaboration had strengthened the review process and enriched the development of the new curricula, expressing optimism that the reforms would produce visible improvements in the agricultural sector.
Ahmad also stressed the need for sustained engagement with stakeholders and the wider public, particularly on the increased emphasis on practical training, to build understanding and support for effective implementation.
Presenting the report on behalf of the committee, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, disclosed that the exercise produced 36 new and reviewed National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula, three National Certificate in Education (NCE) curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards.
He explained that 27 of the occupational standards were developed from scratch, while four existing standards were reviewed, significantly expanding the framework for skills development in agriculture.
Bugaje said the assignment had been completed and the resulting documents considered and approved by the relevant regulatory bodies, including the Board and Commission.
He added that the complete set of curricula would be formally presented at a later public event, describing the outcome as a major boost to agricultural skills development.
Alausa assured that the Ministry would work with NBTE, tertiary institutions, industry stakeholders and other relevant bodies to ensure effective implementation of the reviewed curricula.
He said the government’s focus remained on equipping young Nigerians with practical skills, strengthening the agricultural sector and transforming Nigeria’s agricultural potential into productive opportunities in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
