Senator Simon Bako Lalong, representing Plateau South Senatorial District, has called for the modernisation of agricultural education to meet the changing demands of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Lalong made the call at the Post-National Legislative Summit and Expo organised by the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The summit, held Monday in Abuja, focused on reviewing agricultural curricula to incorporate digital agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology, market linkages and data analytics.
Lalong, a member and former chairman of the committee, said agricultural institutions must move beyond traditional methods and equip students with practical knowledge, digital skills and entrepreneurial capacity.
“We must modernise agricultural education and equip our young people with the skills required to succeed in modern agriculture.”
He noted that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation required professionals with knowledge of technology, climate resilience, value chains, market opportunities and data-driven decision-making.
The senator also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, educational institutions, farmers, private-sector operators and development partners to strengthen the agricultural sector.
He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting legislative initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, investment and human capital development in agriculture.
