Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has called for stronger Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to produce the skilled workforce needed to drive agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Adamu Abubakar who was represented by the Director, TVET and Agricultural Awarding Body, Mr. Husseni Gbogbon Dabban, made the call at the Nigeria TVET Landscape and Project Presentation Stakeholder Workshop held on September 30, 2026.
The Executive Secretary said agricultural transformation required more than research and innovation, stressing the need for well-trained technicians, technologists, entrepreneurs and other skilled professionals capable of translating knowledge and technologies into practical solutions.
He urged agricultural institutions to strengthen competency-based training in areas including digital agriculture, mechanisation, agro-processing, biotechnology, climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
According to him, strengthening the link between research, innovation, training, extension and commercialisation would ensure that agricultural innovations move beyond laboratories to farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and other end users.
The workshop, which brought together government institutions, development partners, academia, agricultural colleges and industry stakeholders, is expected to identify gaps and opportunities within Nigeria’s TVET landscape and develop practical recommendations for repositioning the sector.
ARCN also commended the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Canadian Colleges and Institutes (CICan) for facilitating the engagement, while calling for solution-oriented discussions that would deliver measurable improvements in skills development, employability, entrepreneurship and agricultural productivity.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to developing a skilled workforce capable of contributing to a more productive and sustainable agricultural sector in Nigeria.
