Skip to content

SME Guide

National Agribusiness Institute to Launch in September, Boosting Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the imminent launch of the first National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship this September. This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionise the country’s agricultural sector and support President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda.

Key Highlights:

  1. Nationwide Expansion: The institute will establish campuses across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with the inaugural campus set to open in Aba, Abia State.
  2. State-of-the-Art Facilities: The Aba campus boasts comprehensive infrastructure, including:
    • 600-capacity student sports complex
    • Two administrative blocks
    • Libraries and laboratories
    • On-site clinic
    • Nine solar-powered boreholes
    • 30 hostels with 30 rooms each
    • Four classroom blocks totaling 24 classrooms
  3. Practical Learning Environment: The campus features extensive agricultural facilities, including:
    • 50,000-capacity fish pond
    • Poultry pens
    • 5,000-capacity snail house
    • Fish hatchery
    • 50 cage grasscutter pens
    • Crop fields
    • Modern farming equipment (three tractors, hand-held harvesters)
  4. Nationwide Rollout: Additional campuses are nearing completion.
    • Ogun State: 99% complete, expected to open next academic year
    • Katsina State: 89% complete
  5. Comprehensive Curriculum: The institute will offer programmes from primary to Ordinary National Diploma (OND) level, focusing on agribusiness and entrepreneurship.

NALDA Executive Secretary Paul Ikonne emphasised the institute’s mission to transform agriculture into an attractive career path for Nigerian youth. By combining practical training, specialised curriculum, cutting-edge technology, and entrepreneurial education, the institute aims to address the challenges of an ageing farming population and ensure long-term food security for Nigeria.

“We have students who are going to start in September. The one in Abia is fully ready and commencing the 2024–2025 academic session this September,” Ikonne stated during a press briefing in Abuja.

This strategic initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the agricultural sector, creating employment opportunities, and achieving sustainable food production. As the NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship prepares to welcome its first cohort of students, it marks a significant step towards securing Nigeria’s agricultural future and economic prosperity.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *