The Federal Government has expressed concern over the dwindling number of students enrolling in agricultural programmes across Nigerian tertiary institutions, even as it unveils plans to modernise the country’s agricultural curriculum.

At the official launch of the new Agricultural Curriculum Framework in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as critical to repositioning agriculture as a key driver of national development and economic growth.

Alausa warned that despite significant government investment in the sector, the number of students pursuing agricultural degrees has been declining sharply. Data from the 2024 UTME revealed that nearly 48 percent of allocated admission slots for agricultural courses remained unfilled, highlighting a worrying trend for the country’s long-term food security.

“Thousands of opportunities exist in agricultural programmes annually, yet only a fraction are taken up by students. This gap is concerning, especially in a sector that is crucial for national food security and export potential,” Alausa said.

The Minister contrasted this trend with the growing interest in vocational agricultural training. Recent TVET applications showed over 210,000 applications for livestock farming alone, while agriculture generally ranked just below garment making, which attracted more than 260,000 applicants. “This demonstrates that young Nigerians are eager to acquire practical agricultural skills, but the tertiary curriculum has not kept pace with modern realities,” Alausa noted.

The Minister announced that the revamped curriculum will integrate technology-driven approaches and practical skills aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the establishment of Special Agricultural Processing and Production Zones to create jobs and add value to agricultural produce.

Citing the Republic of Benin’s success in cotton processing as a model, Alausa noted that the country transformed $500 million in raw cotton exports into $12 billion in processed products, employing over 25,000 youths. “Nigeria intends to replicate this success by linking education and industry through practical, modern agricultural training,” he said.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stressed that revamping agricultural education is crucial for Nigeria’s food sovereignty agenda. “We must equip graduates with practical skills and innovation to drive agricultural transformation. Our curriculum must match national priorities to ensure sustainable food security and economic diversification,” he said.

The Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, added that the new framework, jointly developed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is designed to strengthen technical and vocational training while aligning Nigeria’s agricultural education with global best practices.

The reform is expected to boost youth engagement in agriculture, improve food production, and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of processed agricultural goods.