FG Unveils 39 Agricultural Curricula, Mandates 80% Practical Training

News in Brief:

— The Federal Government has introduced 39 new agricultural curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards, covering ND, HND and related NCE programmes.

— This new framework requires an 80:20 practical-to-theoretical training ratio, with greater emphasis on farms, greenhouses, processing facilities, technology hubs and emerging areas.

The Federal Government is overhauling agricultural education in Nigeria, announcing 39 newly developed curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards (NOS) to empower graduates with practical skills.

A major component of the reform is an 80:20 practical-to-theoretical training model, which means students will spend significantly more time gaining hands-on experience than sitting in conventional classroom sessions.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, recently unveiled the new programmes in Abuja, saying the reform was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s food security, create employment opportunities for young people and improve productivity across the agricultural value chain.

FG Shifts Focus From Classroom Learning to Practical Skills

According to Alausa, only a workforce capable of using modern technology to improve production and build commercially viable agribusinesses can fully realise Nigeria’s agricultural potential.

He said the approach could close the gap between what students learn in school and the skills employers and businesses in the agricultural sector need. Under the new framework, practical training will take place in facilities such as teaching farms, greenhouses, processing centres and agricultural technology hubs.

The Minister said the reforms began in 2025 through collaboration between the Federal Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Food Security, and Livestock Development, together with regulatory agencies, educational institutions, curriculum specialists and industry stakeholders.

The exercise produced 39 curricula, 32 reviewed programmes and seven newly developed ones, as well as 31 National Occupational Standards.

The programmes cover National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and corresponding Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) agricultural programmes, with the NCE component developed in collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

The government said these fields would help students develop skills relevant to modern farming, livestock production, technology-driven agriculture and agricultural enterprise development.