Harmonize your curriculum to produce next generation of agro professionals —-Minister urges agric varsity Deans

By David Odama

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari Wednesday admonished Deans of Agriculture in the nation’s universities to harmonize their curriculum in tandem with national policies in agriculture to produce next generation of agro professionals and innovators for sustainable food security.

Senator Abubakar Kyari said while declaring open the 9th Conference of the Association of Deans of Agriculture in Universities in Lafia, that the importance of agriculture in realization of economic growth, ensuring food security should not be over looked adding that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has prioritized the sector.

The Minister who was represented , stressed the mportance of agriculture in the realization of economic growth, food security, the minister added that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has prioritized the sector.

He urged all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to embrace the importance of agriculture in achieving economic growth maintaining that the present administration of President Bola Tinubu has prioritized the sector.

“Our curriculum is outdated and has limited practical exposure. The current stage of agriculture education in Nigeria faces significant challenges primarily due to outdated curriculum that is mainly theoretical and largely disconnected from modern agriculture practices.” stakeholders in the agriculture sector Department of Agriculture Extension, Ayodele Olawumi reiterated

Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Capacity building and Entrepreneurship Development for Agricultural Transformation” Professor Abu Godwin noted that under funding of agricultural institutions has severely constrained the institutions from developing world class training and research capabilities.

He stressed that many faculties of agriculture operate obsolete equipment, poorly maintained laboratories and inadequate demonstration farms which create a sharp contrast between classroom theory and the reality of modern agriculture best practice

President of the Association of Dean of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities, Professor James Joyeoba lamented that the current system in agriculture education in the country is faced with significant challenges hence the need for transformation of agriculture education to empower more Nigerians especially youth and women with practical knowledge to enhance crop and livestock production.

Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman in a remark urged the participants to be innovative in sharing knowledge in order to identify strategies that will catalyze agricultural production for food security and economic development.

The President of African Development Bank, Doctor Akinwunmi Adesina represented by Doctor Abdul Kamara emphasized that agriculture education must be entrepreneurial based and charged students to leverage on the various small and medium entrepreneurial programs of the bank to engage in agro business