Abuja: The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive review of agricultural curricula in polytechnics and colleges of education to address widening skills gaps and revive youth interest in agriculture. The Chairman of the Agriculture Curriculum Review Implementation Committee, Prof. Idris Bugaje, disclosed this at a two-day national workshop on agricultural curriculum review on Monday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bugaje, who is also the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), said many agricultural programmes had remained unchanged for more than 15 years. He highlighted that the outdated curricula had become unattractive to young Nigerians and were misaligned with industry needs. The review will encompass all 33 National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) agricultural curricula, alongside more than 32 National Occupational Standards.
Bugaje noted that past funding for curriculum review was grossly inadequate, with about N50 million previously allocated annually to review over 320 curricula and more than 100 occupational standards nationwide. He emphasized the critical nature of the committee’s work, given agriculture’s central role in Nigeria’s economy, employing a large number of Nigerians and contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He pointed out that admissions into agricultural programmes have been declining due to curricula that are no longer attractive or responsive to current realities. The review aims to prioritize practical, industry-driven training instead of purely academic content, with strengthened private sector participation to ensure graduates acquire relevant skills aligned with modern agriculture and global best practices.
The NBTE boss mentioned that four thematic groups covering crops and agronomy, livestock, fisheries, and forestry would develop implementation timelines and recommend industry resource persons for the exercise. He clarified that undergraduate agricultural programmes under the National Universities Commission (NUC) would not be reviewed immediately, in line with the commission’s five-year curriculum review cycle. Instead, the focus would be on programmes supervised by NBTE and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Bugaje commended the Ministers of Education, the Minister of State for Agriculture, and the Minister of Livestock Development for their collaboration, which facilitated the establishment of the committee. The Executive Secretary of NCCE, Dr. Angela Ajala, stressed the urgency of shifting agricultural education from theory to hands-on practice to address manpower shortages in extension services and specialized farm operations.
Dr. Ajala highlighted the decline in trained agricultural extension officers and technical experts, underscoring the need for a forward-looking curriculum. She stated that for Nigeria to secure its agricultural future, training must transition from classroom theory to practical competence.
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Dabban, affirmed the council’s commitment to producing industry-ready graduates. Represented by Dr. Oluwafemi Salako, Director of the Plant Resources Department, Dabban said the council would provide technical support for the exercise and strengthen research, training, and extension linkages. The council supervises 19 national agricultural research institutes and 17 federal colleges of agriculture.
Mr. Pascal Durand-Carrier, an international expert representing the Sector Skills Council for Agriculture, noted that ongoing skills-gap surveys would support the review, conducted in collaboration with international partners. He stated that this effort would help align training with labor market demands and strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.
Participants at the workshop expressed optimism that the review would produce modern, market-driven curricula, attracting young Nigerians to agriculture and enhancing national food security.