The Kwara State House of Assembly convened its plenary session on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu. After opening prayers and the approval of the previous session’s proceedings, the Assembly delved into two critical motions focused on agricultural development in the state.

Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salau Moves for Agricultural Science in Schools

One of the key motions discussed was the need to incorporate Agricultural Science into the school curriculum as a compulsory subject from the primary level (KWHAM 19), presented by Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salau (Omupo) and seconded by Hon. Maryam Yusuf (Ilorin South).

In his presentation, Hon. Salau emphasized the importance of agricultural education in fostering self-sufficiency, sustaining the economy, and providing students with valuable life skills. He highlighted the systematic approach that agricultural education offers—combining theoretical knowledge with practical fieldwork—enabling young people to understand the origins of their food, appreciate healthy eating habits, and develop entrepreneurial skills through agro-business.

Hon. Salau expressed concern that agricultural education has been significantly downplayed in recent years, with many schools making the subject optional. He warned that this shift has deprived young people of the opportunity to explore the vast potential of agriculture and has contributed to rising unemployment. He called for urgent action to reinstate agricultural science as a compulsory subject to equip future generations with the knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable future.

Following contributions from other members, including Hon. Bello Yinusa Oniboki (Afon) and Hon. Muhammed Kareem Musa (Patigi), the House resolved to commend Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his efforts in promoting food security and urged him to direct the Ministry of Education to reintegrate agricultural science into the state’s basic education curriculum.