Reps advance bill to make agric science compulsory in secondary schools

A bill seeking to make agricultural science compulsory in all public and private secondary schools has passed the second reading at the house of representatives.

Moving a motion for the bill’s consideration on Tuesday, Alex Egbona, lawmaker representing Cross River, said the proposed legislation supports the economic recovery and food security agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Egbona said making agricultural science a core subject would tackle food insecurity and curb the growing youth unemployment rate.

Lawmakers supported the bill when Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, subjected it to a voice vote.

The speaker subsequently referred the bill to the committee on education for further legislative work.

On Monday, Tinubu flagged off an agricultural mechanisation programme, saying his administration will make farming “sexy” to youths.

Tinubu said the deployment of modern agricultural equipment across the country will make crop cultivation easier, noting that boosting productivity in the sector is essential for national stability and food sovereignty.

“We envision Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse, supplying quality produce to international markets while ensuring every citizen has access to affordable nutrition food,” Tinubu said.

“That is why we took a bold decision to establish this renewed hope agricultural mechanisation programme.

“We have here over 2,000 advanced tractors, 50 industrial-grade land preparation bulldozers, 12 fully-equipped mobile workshops, 9,000 plus specialised farming implements.

“This equipment, when deployed, will empower mechanisation and service providers, create job opportunities, make farming easy and more sexy to our young ones.”

Tinubu said his administration’s strategy focuses on year-round cultivation, which would help reduce Nigeria’s vulnerability to seasonal shortages.