The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting practical, skills-based education across Nigerian tertiary institutions as the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, paid an inspection visit to the WOFAN–Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) SIBLING Project at Bayero University, Kano, describing the initiative as a major step towards producing graduates equipped for entrepreneurship and national development.
During the visit on Tuesday, Dr. Alausa expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded at the project site, noting that investments in practical agricultural education would not only strengthen teaching and research but also prepare students to become job creators rather than job seekers. According to the minister, initiatives that combine academic learning with hands-on agricultural experience remain essential in addressing youth unemployment, improving food security, and supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, observed various facilities within the project and praised the quality of infrastructure and training opportunities available to students. He stated that the WOFAN–CDA SIBLING Project represents the type of educational investment capable of transforming university graduates into skilled entrepreneurs, adding that the Federal Government would continue to encourage programmes that bridge the gap between classroom instruction and practical application. He remarked that the project demonstrated how higher education institutions could become centres for innovation, agricultural productivity, and sustainable economic growth through well-structured experiential learning.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the management of the Centre for Dryland Agriculture to showcase ongoing activities designed to enhance agricultural research and strengthen students’ technical competencies. The Director of the Centre, Professor Sanusi Gaya Mohammed, welcomed the ministers and presented an overview of the project’s objectives, implementation strategy, and expected impact on students and surrounding communities.
Professor Mohammed explained that the WOFAN–CDA SIBLING Project was established to expose students to modern agricultural practices while advancing research capable of addressing food production challenges in Nigeria’s dryland regions. As he guided the ministers through the Centre’s facilities, he highlighted the significance of the screen house in supporting seedling production, scientific experimentation, climate-smart agriculture, and practical field training for students pursuing agriculture and related disciplines. He noted that the facility had become an important platform for nurturing innovation while providing learners with real-life experiences that complement classroom teaching.
Throughout the inspection, the ministers examined ongoing activities within the research environment and interacted with officials overseeing different aspects of the project. Dr. Alausa maintained that strengthening practical education remains central to the Federal Government’s educational reforms, stressing that universities must continue to integrate innovation, research, and enterprise development into their academic programmes. He added that graduates who possess practical competencies alongside academic qualifications would be better positioned to contribute meaningfully to national productivity and compete successfully in today’s evolving labour market.
The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, accompanied by members of the university’s principal management team, joined the ministers throughout the inspection. The university leadership reaffirmed its commitment to expanding partnerships that promote research excellence, innovation, and skills acquisition, noting that such collaborations enhance the institution’s contribution to national development while improving the quality of learning opportunities available to students.
The inspection visit further underscored the growing emphasis on integrating agricultural innovation into higher education, with the WOFAN–CDA SIBLING Project emerging as one of the initiatives expected to strengthen research capacity, encourage entrepreneurship, and equip young Nigerians with practical knowledge required to address future food security and economic challenges. Through sustained investment in projects of this nature, the Federal Government aims to deepen skills acquisition and ensure that universities play a more active role in producing graduates capable of driving sustainable national development.
