By Firdausi Zubairu Kaika
The Federal Government has approved a major overhaul of agricultural education in Nigeria’s polytechnics and colleges of education, mandating that 80 per cent of training be practical.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Thursday, 13th August 2026 in Abuja while receiving the report of the committee on the reviewed agriculture curricula for TVET institutions.
Dr. Alausa said the reform is under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform agriculture from a theoretical discipline into a skills-based sector that creates jobs and entrepreneurs.
“The shift from the previous 70 per cent theoretical and 30 per cent practical model to 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical is a significant milestone,” the Minister stated.
“The ultimate objective is to ensure that young Nigerians acquire practical skills that can be applied beyond the classroom. Students will graduate not only with certificates but with competencies deployable immediately in farming, agro-processing, agribusiness and the entire agricultural value chain.”
He assured that the ministry will work with NBTE, institutions and industry to ensure the curricula move “beyond policy documents to effective implementation in classrooms and training centres across the country.”
Presenting the report, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, disclosed that the exercise produced 36 new and reviewed ND and HND curricula, 3 NCE curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards, NOS.
He said 27 of the occupational standards were developed from scratch while 4 existing ones were reviewed.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, commended NBTE, the Skills Council, industry and academics for the collaboration. She urged stakeholders to support sensitisation so the public understands the increased practical component.
Dr. Alausa stressed that success will depend on training of teachers and provision of facilities in polytechnics and colleges of education.
“The Federal Government’s focus remains on equipping Nigerian youths with practical, market-relevant skills, strengthening the agricultural workforce and transforming our agricultural potential into productive economic opportunities,” he added.
The 80% practical model aligns Nigeria’s TVET system with global best practice and directly addresses graduate unemployment by producing job creators in agriculture instead of job seekers.