The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed Ibrahim, has said Agric- Tech sector of our economy will boost agriculture and create employment if fully utilized.
To this end, he disclosed that his organization is partnering with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to implement the National Agricultural Technical, Vocational and Educational training programne for our Youths.
He said, “This initiative is designed to address the skills gap in the agricultural sector, focusing on critical areas such as soil science, veterinary medicine, and digital mapping—skills essential for modern farming.
“The NADF is working closely with various stakeholders, including the NBTE, to implement a more robust training program that will equip youth with the right skills,” Ibrahim said.
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To this end, he called for a stronger focus on skills acquisition in the Agri-Tech sector.
The Executive Secretary was speaking at a stakeholders’ roundtable on Nigerian Youth Development, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Abuja.
He emphasized the importance of combining agricultural knowledge with emerging technologies to equip the nation’s youth for the future workforce and address food security challenges.
Ibrahim highlighted the vast opportunities available to Nigerian youth in agriculture, particularly in the growing Agri-Tech sector—an area where technology and agriculture intersect.
He pointed out that while technological advancements in agriculture are rapidly evolving, the sector has not fully leveraged these innovations.
“The major opportunity for the youth within the agricultural setting lies within the nexus of technology and agriculture, often referred to as Agri-Tech,” Ibrahim stated.
“While technology continues to advance rapidly, Agri-Tech is yet to be fully explored and maximized,” he posited.
Drawing from his own experience in the sector, the NADF Executive Secretary shared insights from his involvement in founding two successful Agri-Tech companies.
He explained that the NADF is working to bridge the gap by developing frameworks for agricultural skills training that align with global standards.
Part of this effort involves a partnership between NADF and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to implement a National Agricultural Technical, Vocational, and Educational Training Programme.
Additionally, Ibrahim announced that the NADF will roll out a pilot scheme across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
This initiative will span six days and focus on agricultural skills tailored to each region’s specific agroecological needs.
