Alausa launches 39 agricultural curricula, 31 occupational standards

…introduces 80:20 practical-to-theoretical training reform

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, has launched 39 reviewed and newly developed agricultural curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards (NOS) to strengthen food security, boost youth employment and improve agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

The initiative, unveiled on Monday at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre, Abuja, also introduces an 80:20 practical-to-theoretical training ratio aimed at equipping students with hands-on agricultural skills and aligning education with industry demands.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Education.

Alausa said the reforms, implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, were designed to bridge the gap between education and the labour market, improve agricultural production and position agriculture as a major driver of economic growth.

He disclosed that the curriculum review, which began in 2025, involved the Federal Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Food Security, and Livestock Development, alongside regulatory agencies, educational institutions, curriculum experts and industry stakeholders.

According to him, the exercise produced 39 agricultural curricula, comprising 32 reviewed and seven newly developed programmes, as well as 31 National Occupational Standards covering National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and corresponding agricultural programmes in the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) system.

The NCE component was developed in collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

Under the new training model, institutions are expected to prioritise practical instruction through teaching farms, greenhouses, processing facilities and agricultural technology hubs.

The curricula also incorporate emerging areas such as precision agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, artificial insemination and agribusiness to equip graduates with skills required by the modern agricultural sector.

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Alausa said the success of the reforms would be measured by graduates’ practical competence, increased agricultural output, improved employment opportunities and their contributions to national food security.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards practical, industry-driven agricultural education.

Maiha highlighted the importance of livestock development to food and nutrition security, employment generation, industrial growth and export earnings.

He cited the Middle East red meat market, valued at approximately $3.2bn, noting that Nigeria’s ability to compete effectively remained constrained by inadequate sector organisation and a shortage of practical expertise.

He urged educational institutions to establish functional farms, adopt digital and climate-smart agricultural practices, and expand access to skills, technology, finance and markets.

The minister also stressed that functional practical training facilities should be central to institutional accreditation to ensure that graduates acquire the competencies required by the industry.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the launch as a milestone in repositioning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), strengthening teacher preparation and aligning educational programmes with labour-market needs.

She said competency-based instruction and clearly defined occupational standards would improve training quality and prepare graduates for productive employment.

Ahmad called on regulatory agencies, educational institutions and industry partners to support implementation by providing qualified instructors, adequate equipment, functional workshops and continuous professional development for teachers and trainers.

She also advocated stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry to expand apprenticeship programmes, industrial attachments and workplace learning.

The minister emphasised the need to ensure that women, persons with disabilities and young people from underserved communities had equitable access to the opportunities created by the reforms.

Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to working with relevant ministries, regulatory agencies, institutions and industry stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the curricula and occupational standards.

He said the reforms were expected to produce a skilled, innovative and entrepreneurial workforce capable of creating jobs, developing agribusinesses and contributing to Nigeria’s food security objectives under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.