Agriculture and forestry education In Nigeria: the critical challenges

Abstract

To unlock the future of Agriculture and Forestry Education (A&FE) in Nigeria, critical dynamics observable from fourteen programmes in three selected universities were studied over a five-year period (1997-2001). A&FE trend and priority settings were examined with the hope of addressing enrolment concerns, admission criteria, curricula efficiency, staff endowment/capabilities and programme sustainability. The results revealed marked attenuation in A&FE graduands vis-h-vis undergraduate enrolment; decline in societal norms and priorities which should normally attach appreciable value to the agriculture profession and the deplorable standard of professional ethics among A&FE graduates who now prefer and seek after white collar jobs. Fundamental rectifier steps are recommended to revise and improve on existing curricula; bridge apparent gap between practical and theoretical contents and improve civil perspective of A&FE, as vital component of contemporary educational needs. When A&FE graduates can, on the field, put knowledge acquired into valuable forms, the profession would have succeeded in producing job creators rather than mere job seekers.