The Federal Government has launched a new practical-based training model for agricultural education in the country, unveiling 39 revised or new curricula and 31 occupational standards built around an 80% practical, 20% theoretical training model.
The initiative is aimed at equipping students with hands-on skills to boost food production, encourage youth participation in farming, and promote self-reliance in the agricultural sector.
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa said the overhaul is intended to produce job-ready graduates, expand agribusiness, and support the country’s food-security agenda.
The reforms, launched in Abuja, cover National Diploma( ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) agricultural programs, he said.
They include 32 revised programs and seven new ones, developed in collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and other government agencies.
According to Alausa, under the new framework, institutions are expected to devote 80% of instructional time to practical learning through teaching farms, laboratories, greenhouses, processing facilities, and agricultural-technology hubs.
The minister said the curricula emphasize precision agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, artificial insemination, and agribusiness—areas the government views as central to improving productivity and preparing graduates for commercial farming.
Alausa framed the initiative as an investment in human capital, saying Nigeria needs a workforce able to deploy modern technologies, raise output, and build sustainable agricultural enterprises.
Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad said the reforms mark a significant step for technical and vocational education, but stressed that success depends on qualified instructors, modern facilities, and inclusive access to training.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) said nearly ₦1 billion has been mobilized for the initiative.
The Education Ministry said it would work with partners to translate the curriculum changes into youth employment, stronger agribusiness, higher agricultural productivity, and improved food security.
The measure aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, though its impact will hinge on whether colleges can fund farms, equipment, and industry partnerships at scale.
