The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has organized a three-day Agricultural Education Training Programme (AETP) tour for pupils of public primary schools under the 2021 and 2022 intervention years. The programme, which took place between Monday, 22nd September 2025, and Wednesday, 24th September 2025, was themed “Resuscitation of Practical Agriculture in Public Primary Schools is a Collective Responsibility.”
It formed part of efforts by the Board to revive practical agriculture in schools by exposing pupils to hands-on learning, modern farming practices, and agribusiness opportunities.
The tour took pupils to Erikorodo Farming Estate in Ikorodu, the Institute of Agriculture in Araga, Epe, and Aiyedoto Farm in Ojo. At these locations, pupils participated in activities such as crop cultivation, fishery, livestock management, and animal husbandry, while also learning the application of modern farming techniques. The exercise was designed to demonstrate the relevance of agriculture beyond the classroom and highlight its potential as a profitable enterprise and sustainable career path for young people.
Speaking during the programme, LASUBEB Executive Chairman, Dr. Hakeem Shittu, described the tours as a deliberate investment in the future of Lagos children. He said the initiative equips pupils with agricultural knowledge and entrepreneurial skills in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of producing self-reliant, skilled, and globally competitive pupils. “Agriculture must be repositioned as both an educational tool and a business opportunity,” he said.
Dr. Shittu also commended UBEC for funding, sustaining, and supporting the effective implementation of the AETP. He explained that the focus on practical exposure distinguishes the programme from conventional classroom learning. According to him, “Initiatives like this is key to national food security and youth empowerment. Beyond this, the State is also instilling agricultural practices in our schools by equipping some state-owned primary schools with poultry pens stocked with birds under the Lagos State Agricultural Education Programme.”
He further called on teachers, parents, guardians, and stakeholders to support the resuscitation of agriculture in schools and households.
At the Institute of Agriculture, Araga, Epe, pupils were guided by agricultural instructor Mr. Sanusi Wale, who conducted practical sessions on fishery, archery, and livestock rearing. He explained the process of fishery, including pond preparation, stocking fingerlings, feeding, and eventual harvesting.
He also introduced pupils to livestock handling and stressed the importance of proper animal care. He noted that agriculture, when approached with modern techniques, can provide both food security and sustainable income.