The Network for Agricultural Technical Education of Nigeria (NATEN), yesterday called on all stakeholders to make agriculture attractive for young people to encourage participation in national development.
The Chairman of NATEN, Prof. Justina Mgbada, made the call at the ongoing three-day International Workshop on Demand-Driven Curriculum for Agriculture Education in Nigeria.
According to her, Research shows that 60% of farmers in Nigeria are aged people, noting that if nothing is done, nobody will be left to continue in the future.
She said demand-driven agricultural education was an opportunity to train young persons in higher institutions on value addition in line with the current realities of the country.
Mgbada argued that when the agriculture curriculum is reformed into a demand-driven approach, it would become attractive, saying if Nigerian youth embraced agriculture, more than half of the country’s problem would be solved.
We have many natural resources that when harnessed well, the country will develop; this is why the curriculum of agricultural education needs to be changed and modified and made demand-driven.
She said: “We found out that one of the major things we need to do is to make agriculture glamorous by making it attractive to the youths.
“It’s true that there are no jobs, students pass out from schools, they do not get jobs, instead of them going to the farms, they come into major cities, wash cars, clean windscreens, and do other menial jobs.
“We have many natural resources that when harnessed well, the country will develop; this is why the curriculum of agricultural education needs to be changed and modified and made demand-driven.
Mgbada, a professor of Agricultural Extension, therefore, urged all stakeholders to support the demand-driven approach toward changing agriculture practice and encourage value addition in a sustainable manner.
Value addition
The President, Association of Deans of Faculties of Agriculture of Nigerian Universities, Prof. James Jayeoba, described the workshop as timely, and an opportunity for a paradigm shift from the regular theory to demand-driven curriculum development.
According to him, it is an avenue for making agriculture practitioners problem solvers in line with the realities of the society and to develop their mind set toward value-added activities.
He noted that many agriculture graduates were unemployable because the training received were not in line with the realities of the time, with many of them having to seek added knowledge outside the school environment.
“A paradigm shift in our regular agriculture education curricula is apt and this training is beneficial to all.
“We must move from theoretical-driven curriculum to demand-driven curriculum, so that we can have the orientation that students acquire hands-on experience on relevant equipment and reality in the production system.’’
Jayeoba expressed optimism that the workshop would change the face of agriculture training, saying it would be stepped down regionally for more awareness for lectures and future curriculum developers.
Currently, there is low interest from tiers of government to implement and reform curriculum; sadly, most conversations are merely for political reasons…
The Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Sharubutu, said low political will was hampering agricultural education in Nigeria.
He noted that the workshop was critical for Agricultural development, saying the implementation of reformed curriculum was a big issue.
“There is the need for a demand driven curriculum and implementation, it must be tested and implemented and we want strong political will to implement them.
“Currently, there is low interest from tiers of government to implement and reform curriculum; sadly, most conversations are merely for political reasons, the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Education must align their needs and harmonise them.
“The agricultural education system needs a minimum standard, Agriculture doesn’t have machinery for skills development, there is need for industrial attachment, hands on experience is crucial also, we have unexposed and inexperienced graduates.
“So, it’s not just about having a good paper work, but implementation, there is no need for blame games in leadership, but for all stakeholders to take ownership in changing the narrative.’’
For Prof. Oladele Idowu, of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the importance of demand driven strategies and methods is to improve graduates’ employability, adding that many countries were shifting from supply to demand driven approaches.
Idowu stressed the need for training to gather practical skills, to encourage agriculture value chain that will attract private sector participation.
“Needs assessment must be seen before developing curriculum for schools, this will help in capacity building and value addition, especially on current issues.’’
NATEN is supported by the USAID-funded, John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Programme, implemented by Winrock International. (NAN)
