Grapevine

Senator urges FG to mandate agriculture studies in schools

In a keynote delivered by Prof. Binta Sulyman of Kwara State University, Malete, Senator Mustapha stressed the need for practical agricultural education from an early age to shift farming from being viewed as mere subsistence to a viable profession.

“We need to get serious about agriculture if we are to feed our growing population and reduce our over-reliance on imports.

“Making agriculture a compulsory and practical subject in secondary schools is a critical step in that direction”, he said.

Mustapha expressed concern over the declining interest in agriculture among young Nigerians, attributing it to outdated perceptions of farming as labour-intensive and unrewarding.

He argued that exposing students to modern, technology-driven agriculture—such as mechanized farming, agribusiness, and sustainable practices—could reignite interest in the sector.