Koko Maxwella 
Vice President Shettima speaking at the Nigerian Renewable Energy Forum.
ABUJA, Nigeria – Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for the reintroduction of agriculture in Nigerian schools as a core strategy for national food security, economic stability, and youth empowerment.
Speaking at the General Assembly of Farmers on Saturday in Abuja, Shettima, represented by Uju Rochas-Anwukah, stressed that agriculture should be a culture, not just a curriculum, with every school having functional farms and agriculture clubs to teach students land use, food production, and agribusiness.
“Our children must know that food is wealth, land is power, and farming is business—not punishment,” Shettima said.
He urged leaders and institutions, including the military and paramilitary agencies, to actively participate in farming, not symbolically, but as responsible nation-building.
Defence Minister Gen Christopher Musa (retd) assured farmers that the government is addressing security challenges in agricultural communities, urging farmers to report threats to protect national food production.
All Farmers Association President Dr Farouk Mudi highlighted the impact of climate change, rising input costs, and insecurity, citing delayed rainfall and flash floods that destroyed over 500,000 hectares of crops. Fertiliser prices have surged 300%, further threatening productivity.
“Farming must be recognised as a profession vital to national pride, jobs, and stability,” Mudi added.
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Korede Abdullah 
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