Abuja: The Federal Government has urged schools nationwide to adopt the Young Farmers’ Club initiative as part of efforts to enhance food security, productivity, and agricultural inclusivity. Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, made this appeal during his visit to 1st UBE Primary School, Pasali, Kuje, in celebration of World Food Day.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Abdullahi emphasized that the initiative aims to raise awareness about agriculture as a viable and dignified profession, equipping students with modern farming skills and reviving interest in the sector. “The programme fosters entrepreneurship, responsibility, and self-reliance through practical training and home farming projects,” the minister stated. He noted that this idea was reinforced during a prior visit to Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, as part of the 2024 World Food Day celebration.
The minister also praised First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu for her ‘Every Home a Garden’ initiative, which supports home-based farming and aligns with national food security objectives. At the Kuje school, Abdullahi inspected student-run horticultural projects and encouraged them to adopt the principle: “Produce what you eat and eat what you produce.” He instructed the Horticulture Department of the ministry to back the school’s club under the Urban Agriculture programme, stressing the importance of year-round farming.
In addition, Abdullahi revealed the government’s ongoing review of school curricula to integrate agriculture at all educational levels. Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, also advocated for the inclusion of animal husbandry in school farming programmes to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of food production. “Children shouldn’t think food comes from the supermarket. Someone has to work in the field,” Maiha remarked. He announced plans to introduce grass varieties for animal feed production, highlighting that livestock was the missing element in school agriculture.
On behalf of the students, Emmanuel Ndubisi expressed gratitude to the ministers for their support, noting that students had already begun cultivating crops such as okro, corn, and groundnut. The minister further visited Government Secondary Schools in Karshi and Karu, where he presented farm inputs to students to aid ongoing agricultural projects.