The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced a policy reform directing polytechnics and Colleges of Education to implement an 80 per cent practical-training model across their agricultural curricula. 

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, August 13, 2026, while receiving the implementation report on the reviewed agriculture curricula, Alausa explained that the shift from the previous 70 per cent theoretical framework to 80 per cent hands-on application and 20 per cent theory will equip young Nigerians with market-ready agricultural skills.

Addressing stakeholders during the presentation, Alausa criticised previous instructional models for producing ill-equipped graduates who lacked exposure to modern farming techniques. 

“We’re not turning our input into output. And the major reason was that these kids were poorly trained,” Alausa stated, noting that many institutions operated without active demonstration farms. 

He emphasised that while subsistence farming currently accounts for 80 per cent of Nigeria’s total agricultural output and mechanised farming just 20 per cent, aligning tertiary training with President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda requires preparing graduates for commercial, technology-driven agribusiness.

Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, commended the curriculum committee for incorporating input from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Skills Council, academic specialists, and private industry leaders. 

Presenting the final report, Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed that the committee produced 36 new and revised National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula, three National Certificate in Education (NCE) curricula, and 31 National Occupational Standards. The Ministry assured that comprehensive teacher training and stakeholder sensitisation will accompany the nationwide rollout.

Source: NAN
Image Credit: AIT