FG to Inject ₦1bn into Tertiary Institutions for Mechanised Farming, Says Education Minister

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will allocate ₦1 billion to tertiary institutions to support mechanised farming, livestock production, and the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies.

Dr Alausa disclosed this in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, noting that strategic plans are underway in collaboration with the Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Aliyu S. Abdullahi, to align Federal Schools of Agriculture with current industry demands.

As part of the initiative, the ministers agreed to review and update the curriculum in these institutions to equip students with practical skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of modern farming.

The education minister further revealed that a Technical Inter-Ministerial Committee will be inaugurated to oversee the process.

He said the committee would include representatives such as the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), who would serve as Chair; TETFund; the Director of Polytechnics at the Federal Ministry of Education; the Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN); as well as directors from the Ministry of Agriculture and the private sector.

According to him, the initiative supports the President’s Nigeria Policy. It aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) Agenda, which seeks to promote food sovereignty, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen the agricultural economy.

“The transformation of Nigeria’s food systems is urgently needed. We must move towards food sovereignty, ensuring that Nigeria can feed itself and lessen its dependency on imports. By focusing on local production and consumption, we can reduce food imports, strengthen our agricultural economy, and ensure that Nigerian farmers thrive,” Alausa stated.

He expressed optimism that the new measures and funding would bring lasting change to the sector.

“This meeting marks an important step toward transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through education, collaboration, and innovation. The work ahead is crucial, and both ministries are optimistic that the new initiatives and funding will make a lasting impact on the sector.

“Together, we can achieve food sovereignty and a sustainable future for Nigeria,” he added.