The Federal Government has unveiled revised agricultural curricula and national occupational standards for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and Colleges of Education to strengthen practical skills, improve livestock production and create employment opportunities.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development said the reform would help align agricultural education with industry needs and develop the skilled workforce required to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, stated this on Monday, October 19, 2026, during the unveiling of the revised curricula and occupational standards.
Maiha described the initiative as an important step towards equipping students with practical skills to support investment, entrepreneurship, import substitution, export expansion and job creation in the livestock industry.
FG Targets Skilled Workforce for Livestock Sector
The minister highlighted the importance of livestock production to Nigeria’s food security, livelihoods and economic growth, noting that the sector offers significant opportunities for investment and employment.
“The livestock sector is vital to Nigeria’s food and nutrition security, employment, livelihoods, industrial development and economic growth. It also offers significant opportunities for investment, entrepreneurship, import substitution and export expansion,” he said.
He explained that unlocking these opportunities would require professionals with practical knowledge of animal production, breeding, nutrition, animal health, biosecurity, pasture development, processing, marketing and other livestock value-chain activities.
“The value of that market is about 3.2 billion dollars. We have the livestock, we have the land resources, we have the skill level. But that issue of having practical experience for people who manage ranches end to end, from field to fork, we don’t have it. And therefore, this exercise today is a step in the right direction,” Maiha said.
He stressed that agricultural training institutions must go beyond classroom instruction to provide students with hands-on experience in modern livestock production.
According to him, every agricultural training institution should have access to functional farms and livestock facilities to prepare students for the practical demands of the industry.
“Our goal must be to move beyond producing job seekers to developing skilled professionals, innovative entrepreneurs and job creators,” he said.
Maiha also urged stakeholders to prioritise inclusive access to skills development, particularly for women, young people, smallholder farmers and rural communities.
Education Minister Seeks Modern Training Facilities
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, commended the institutions, industry partners and stakeholders involved in the curriculum review.
He described the reform as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to connecting education with national development priorities.
Alausa noted that agricultural education must respond to changing technologies, modern production methods and industry demands, stressing that graduates should be equipped to apply their knowledge and create economic value.
He also emphasised the need to modernise agricultural training facilities, including farms, processing centres, greenhouses and other practical learning environments.
The education minister called for stronger coordination among regulatory agencies to ensure that institutional adoption, assessment, monitoring and accreditation align with the revised curriculum and national occupational standards.
Stakeholders Highlight Implementation Needs
Other stakeholders, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Embassy of France, welcomed the curriculum review.
They stressed that the success of the reform would depend on effective implementation, capable trainers, appropriate equipment, meaningful assessments and opportunities for workplace learning.
The revised curriculum is expected to strengthen the connection between agricultural education and the livestock industry by equipping students with relevant technical skills and practical experience.
Its effective implementation will be important in preparing graduates for employment, supporting livestock-based businesses and expanding the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
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