The Federal Government has introduced an 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical model for agricultural education in polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria, in a move aimed at producing job-ready graduates and entrepreneurs.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the reform on Thursday, August 13, 2026, while receiving the report of the committee responsible for implementing the reviewed agricultural curricula for polytechnics and colleges of education.
Alausa said the reform was part of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reposition agriculture as a skills-based and productive sector capable of generating employment, increasing productivity and creating economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
The minister described the shift from the previous approximately 70 per cent theoretical and 30 per cent practical model to the new 80 per cent practical and 20 per cent theoretical structure as a major milestone in the government’s skills-development agenda.
According to him, the objective is to ensure that Nigerian youths graduate with practical competencies that can be immediately deployed outside the classroom.
“The ultimate objective is to ensure that young Nigerians acquire practical skills that can be applied beyond the classroom,” Alausa said.
Under the new approach, graduates are expected to acquire skills applicable to farming, agro-processing, agribusiness and other segments of the agricultural value chain.
The government said the reform is designed to address the longstanding gap between classroom education and labour-market requirements by treating agriculture increasingly as an industry requiring practical expertise rather than solely as an academic discipline.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, commended the committee for its work and the collaboration among the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Skills Council, industry stakeholders and academics.
Ahmad said the collaborative process resulted in curricula that are better aligned with the needs of the agricultural sector.
She expressed optimism that the new curriculum would contribute to improved agricultural productivity and skills development, while stressing the importance of public sensitisation to ensure that stakeholders understand and support the increased practical component.
Presenting the report, the Executive Secretary of the NBTE, Prof. Idris Muhammad Bugaje, said the curriculum review produced 36 new and reviewed National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) curricula.
He added that three National Certificate in Education (NCE) curricula were also developed, alongside 31 National Occupational Standards (NOS).
According to Bugaje, 27 of the occupational standards were newly developed, while four were reviewed, thereby expanding the national framework for agricultural skills development.
He said the relevant regulatory bodies had considered and approved the documents, while a formal public unveiling of the new curricula is expected to take place later.
Bugaje described the outcome as a significant boost to efforts to strengthen agricultural skills development and equip graduates with competencies that can support employment, entrepreneurship and productivity.
The Federal Government said the reform is expected to strengthen the connection between agricultural education, industry requirements and economic opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians entering the labour market.
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