The Federal Government has unveiled 39 reviewed and newly developed agricultural curricula and 31 National Occupational Standards (NOS), alongside a new 80:20 practical-to-theoretical training model, to strengthen food security, create employment opportunities for young people and boost agricultural productivity.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, announced the reforms at the unveiling ceremony held at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre in Abuja.

Alausa said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between education and industry by equipping students with practical skills needed to improve agricultural production, establish sustainable agribusinesses and respond to emerging challenges in the sector.

He explained that the reform was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agricultural development, food security, human capital development and employment generation.

According to the minister, the curriculum review process began in 2025 through collaboration among the Federal Ministries of Education, Agriculture and Food Security, and Livestock Development, alongside regulatory agencies, educational institutions, curriculum experts and industry stakeholders.

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

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

Alausa said a major component of the reform was the introduction of an 80:20 practical-to-theoretical training ratio, which would prioritise hands-on learning through teaching farms, greenhouses, agricultural processing facilities and technology hubs.

He added that the revised curricula incorporated emerging areas such as precision agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, artificial insemination and agribusiness to prepare graduates for modern agricultural practices and encourage entrepreneurship.

The minister stressed that the success of the initiative would be measured by graduates’ practical competence, improved agricultural output, increased employment and tangible contributions to national food security.

He reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to working with relevant ministries, regulatory agencies, educational institutions and private-sector partners to ensure effective implementation of the new curricula and occupational standards.

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 praised the Tinubu administration’s focus on agriculture and livestock development, while acknowledging the contributions of the education and agriculture ministries and the technical team involved in developing the reforms.

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

Citing the Middle East red meat market, valued at approximately $3.2 billion, the minister said Nigeria’s ability to compete in the international market remained constrained by the lack of adequate 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.

Maiha also called for practical training facilities to become a central consideration in institutional accreditation, stressing the need to equip students with the competencies required to compete in the agricultural sector.

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

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

She urged regulatory agencies, educational institutions and industry partners to support implementation by providing qualified instructors, adequate equipment, functional workshops and continuous professional development opportunities.

The minister also called for stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry to expand apprenticeships, industrial attachments and workplace learning.

She emphasised the need to ensure inclusive access to training opportunities for women, persons with disabilities and young people from underserved communities.

The Federal Government said the reforms were intended to produce a skilled, innovative and entrepreneurial workforce capable of driving agribusiness development, increasing agricultural productivity, creating jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s food security.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the connection between agricultural education and industry requirements while positioning young Nigerians to participate more effectively in the country’s agricultural value chains.