By Nkechi Eze
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has called for stronger Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to develop the skilled workforce required to accelerate agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
According to an official statement signed by the PRO, ARCN, Khadijat O. Ameen, the Executive Secretary of ARCN made the call at the Nigeria TVET Landscape & Project Presentation Stakeholder Workshop held on September 30, 2026, where the Council was represented by the Director, TVET and Agricultural Awarding Body, Mr. Husseni Gbogbon Dabban.
The Executive Secretary said Nigeria’s 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 called for stronger agricultural institutions anchored on competency-based training and equipped to address emerging areas including digital agriculture, mechanisation, agro-processing, biotechnology, climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness and entrepreneurship.
The workshop brought together government institutions, development partners, academia, agricultural colleges and industry stakeholders to examine gaps and opportunities within Nigeria’s TVET landscape and develop practical recommendations for repositioning the sector.
ARCN also emphasised the need to strengthen the link between research, innovation, training, extension and commercialisation to ensure that agricultural innovations move beyond laboratories and reach farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and other end users.
The Council commended the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Canadian International College and Association (CICan) for facilitating the engagement, while urging stakeholders to focus on practical and solution-oriented discussions that would deliver measurable improvements in skills development, employability, entrepreneurship and agricultural productivity.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of supporting a more productive, resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in Nigeria.
