Education and development advocate, Nature Iboro, has described the inclusion of Agriculture as a core subject in Nigeria’s educational curriculum as a crucial step toward strengthening food security and reshaping societal perceptions of success among young people.
Iboro said the initiative is long overdue, particularly as the country contends with rising food prices and growing youth unemployment. She noted that agriculture has historically been viewed as an occupation reserved for the poor, while generations of young Nigerians were encouraged to pursue mainly white-collar careers.
According to her, making Agriculture a compulsory subject would help reorient the mindset of learners and reposition the sector as a viable, dignified, and profitable career path. She emphasized that agriculture should be taught not only as a science but also as a business, enabling students to understand the full value chain—from cultivation and processing to commercialization and sustainable agribusiness development.
The advocate also called for the establishment of demonstration farms, greenhouses, and structured exposure to agribusiness models at the primary and secondary school levels. She urged universities, particularly faculties of agriculture, to strengthen practical training infrastructure and explore emerging opportunities such as agricultural tourism and value-chain development.
Her comments follow recent remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who advocated for Agriculture to be made a core subject in Nigeria’s educational system. The Vice President described the move as essential to enhancing food security and positioning agriculture as a key driver of national development.