In an effort to spark greater interest in agriculture among young Nigerians, the CEO of Jofez Agro, a leading agricultural company, has called for the subject to be made compulsory in schools rather than elective. The CEO, who has long advocated for the importance of food production in the country’s education system, believes that understanding agriculture is crucial for every student, not just those with plans to pursue farming careers.

“Agriculture shouldn’t be an elective subject. It should be compulsory. Everyone needs to know a little about food production and possibly get involved in it, even if it’s by having a small backyard garden or a mini poultry,” said the CEO. “If you make agriculture an elective subject, you’re indirectly inviting hunger to the land. This is our own way of encouraging students to consider agriculture.”

This passionate stance on agricultural education has led Jofez Agro to take action. In 2016, the company noticed a concerning trend: many students applying for positions at Jofez Agro lacked a credit in Agricultural Science, a subject that was increasingly becoming selective. The CEO recalls, “When I asked students why they didn’t have agriculture, they said it was now a selective subject.”

In response to this gap, Jofez Agro decided to launch an initiative to encourage students to take agriculture more seriously. The company introduced a prize for the best students in Agriculture, aiming to motivate and reward students who excel in the subject. “Food is a basic need of man, so why should we choose not to offer Agriculture in schools or make it a selective subject?” the CEO emphasized.

The initiative gained momentum in 2019, with Jofez Agro visiting schools to engage with students and promote agricultural education. After a brief pause, the company resumed the school visits last year, reaching more students across the country. This year, Jofez Agro plans to expand the initiative further, aiming to visit even more schools and provide prizes for the best students in Agriculture.

“We want to make it bigger than it has ever been,” the CEO said. “We want to make sure every student knows that agriculture is not just for farmers, but for everyone who wants to ensure food security and contribute to the nation’s development.”

As part of the continued push for agricultural education, Jofez Agro is inviting the public to suggest secondary schools that should be visited this year. He made a poll on his social media to get opinions. “It’s initiatives like these that should be encouraged to empower these young ones to choose wisely as the future of the country lies in their hands,” the CEO encouraged.

With a growing commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of agriculture among Nigerian students, Jofez Agro believes that this effort will not only promote academic excellence but also nurture the next generation of food producers, critical for the country’s future.