A university professor, Remigius Oyebode Famiwole, has urged the government to make Agricultural Science a mandatory subject for all junior students and science students in both public and private secondary schools in Nigeria. He believes this move will address the significant challenges facing practical agricultural education, which is currently classified as both a pre-vocational and vocational subject.
Professor Famiwole shared his insights during the 85th inaugural lecture at Ekiti State University (EKSU) in Ado-Ekiti. The lecture was titled, “Dynamics of Agricultural Science and Agricultural Education Pedagogies: The Missing Link Leverage.” He highlighted that most agricultural activities in rural areas are carried out by elderly farmers, who are aging and passing away without enough young, skilled individuals to take their place in production agriculture or agri-entrepreneurship.
To ensure the effectiveness of this initiative, Famiwole recommended that only trained and professional teachers of Agriculture should teach the subject in all secondary schools. He also suggested periodic evaluations of school farm activities by school authorities and relevant government agencies. He called on PTAs, philanthropists, and successful agro-based businessmen to support school farm development through donations of resources or funds. Additionally, he proposed that the Board of Vocational and Technical Education in each state should collaborate with other government agencies to evaluate all pre-vocational and vocational subjects in secondary schools.
The Vice Chancellor of EKSU, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, praised Professor Famiwole’s lecture and emphasized the importance of embracing agriculture. Olanipekun shared his personal experience of maintaining a garden at home and expressed his intention to become a full-time farmer upon retirement. He encouraged his colleagues to showcase their contributions to scholarship and translate their research findings into practical solutions that can benefit society.
In conclusion, Professor Famiwole’s call for mandatory Agricultural Science education aims to cultivate a new generation of skilled and enthusiastic young farmers, ensuring the sustainability and growth of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
