The Federal Government has announced plans to bring agriculture directly into Nigerian universities as part of efforts to strengthen food security and drive economic growth. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the initiative will support agricultural infrastructure in federal tertiary institutions and help reduce poverty while creating new economic opportunities for young people.

Abdullahi made this known during a courtesy visit by officials of the Federal University of Education, Kontagora, Niger State, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Haruna, to the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) office in Abuja. He explained that the government’s focus is on practical, hands-on agricultural training that will equip students with real skills and encourage entrepreneurship.

According to the minister, universities are expected to embrace smart agriculture by using digital tools, data analytics, and modern farming methods to improve productivity and sustainability. He said institutions should move beyond traditional farming and adopt precision agriculture that optimises inputs, boosts yields, and creates a connected food system from production to processing. This approach, he added, will help raise a new generation of agripreneurs.

In his remarks, Prof. Haruna noted that Dr. Abdullahi sponsored the bill that established the university while he was a senator, which was later signed into law in 2021. He appealed for government support in setting up agro-processing and value-addition centres, as well as modern farm equipment, renewable energy solutions, cold rooms, greenhouses, and irrigation facilities to enhance training, research, and food production.