The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) has launched a strategy to reposition school agriculture as a key tool for skills acquisition, food security, and youth empowerment.
Dr Iyela Ajayi, Executive Secretary of NSSEC, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a one-day sensitisation and strategy workshop for agricultural science officers under the “Grow What You Eat” initiative.
Ajayi explained that the programme is part of ongoing efforts to align senior secondary education with national priorities on functional skills, entrepreneurship, and food sustainability.
“Grow What You Eat is a bold response to these national priorities. It is a strategy to transform school gardens into living classrooms, where students learn not only agriculture but also business acumen, hard work, and self-sufficiency,” he said.
Ajayi noted that the official launch of the programme is scheduled for 26 June at Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja.
Also speaking at the event, Mr Mohammed Salihu, Director of Teachers Development and International Partnership at NSSEC, said the workshop was designed to translate policy into action and embed sustainability and self-reliance into the senior secondary curriculum.
“It prepares our students not just for exams, but for life, work, and financial independence,” he stated.
Dr Oscar Ikwankwan, a facilitator and lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Katsina, urged participants to adopt clear strategies and uniform guidelines to ensure the programme’s nationwide impact.
He said the initiative targets SS1 to SS3 students aged 15 to 18, with the goal of fostering interest in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and sustainable farming practices.
Agricultural science desk officers from 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory participated in the workshop. The states include Katsina, Borno, Taraba, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Kogi, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, Zamfara, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Edo, and Rivers.
The officers are expected to lead the implementation of the initiative in their respective states.
(NAN)