Agricultural Engineering Education is essential as a suitable vehicle towards sustainable development of the socio-economic infrastructures necessary for the growth of the agricultural sector. Undoubtedly, the quest for sustainable development in agriculture depends on the extent to which Agricultural Engineering Education is revamped and transformed to compete globally.

1. AN
ORAL SEMINAR PRESENTATION
ON
THE
CHALLENGES OF AGRICULTURAL
ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
PRESENTED
BY
TOKURAH, MAJID OSHOLE-IMODU
AGE/09/6543

2. CONTENT
 Agricultural Engineering Education
 Agricultural Engineering Education in Nigeria (Admission and
graduating requirements, curricula, training duration)
 Challenges/barriers of Agricultural Engineering Education
 Solutions on Agricultural Engineering Technology and
Development in Nigeria
 Conclusion
 Recommendations

3. Agricultural engineering education
 AEE is essential as a suitable vehicle towards sustainable
development of the socio-economic infrastructures necessary for
the growth of the agricultural sector. Undoubtedly, the quest for
sustainable development in agriculture depends on the extent to
which Agricultural Engineering Education is revamped and
transformed to compete globally.
 Today education has evolved as the primary agent of transformation
towards sustainable development, increasing human’s capacities to
transform their visions for society into reality. (UNESCO,2005)

4. Agricultural Engineering Education in
Nigeria(Admission and Graduating
requirements, curricula, training duration

5. Challenges/barriers of Agricultural
Engineering Education
 Developmental Challenges (Infrastructural inadequacies)
 Institutional Challenges
 Training and skill acquisition( institutional training, SIWES,
field studies, laboratories), SIWES, NYSC engagement do not
give exposure to students.
 Overemphasis on certificates at the expense of skill
 Ill-conceived educational programmes through inappropriate
curricula and programme structures not relevant to national
development.
 Lack of access to relevant and timely information is also another
major barrier as many opportunities available in agricultural
engineering specializations are not accessible

6. Agricultural Mechanization
in the Developing World
 Agricultural transformation will involve radical changes in both
power and energy with greater use of machine power and higher
levels of machine use.
 Agriculture in the developing world is still labor-intensive.
Human labor accounts for 2/3 of the power input in agriculture,
draft animals ¼, and machine power less than 1/10.

7. Situation in Nigeria
 Lack of appropriate machineries that cater to and suit the
requirements of small-scale farms.
 Basic farm mechanization requirements:
 suitability to small farms;
 simple design and technology;
 versatility for using in different farm operations;
 affordability in terms of cost to farmers; and
 provision of support services from the government and the
private sectors/ manufacturers. (Soni)

8. Solutions to Agricultural Engineering
education and development in Nigeria
 We should develop engineering systems that monitor, replace, or
intervene to agricultural problems indigenous to Nigeria. E.g.
Agricultural machineries for our soils.
 Provision of support services from the government and the private
sectors/ manufacturers to educational institutions.
 More focus needs to be placed on entrepreneurship. (students should
be learn to be farm managers before graduation by at least managing
an hectare of land
 Agricultural Engineers should become more involved with policy
issues and let administrators know about the benefits of your work to
society and ensure that engineering is on the priorities list.

9. Holistic Engineering:
Be Part of the Social Team
 Why the public doesn’t appreciate us more:
 We have not communicated our achievements
effectively. (We have not thought beyond our
individual micro studies. The technical aspect is only
part of the picture, sometimes the easy part.
Engineering should help people, so social and
economic discussions cannot be ignored).

10. Contributions of Agricultural Engineering
education to the economy
 Food security
 Reduction of drudgery in Agricultural work
 Rural infrastructural development
 Industrial development
 Employment Generation

11. Conclusion
 Government policy always plays a vital role in the R&D for
Agricultural Engineering.
 This seminar enlightens us on why agricultural engineering
education is important to our economy and the challenges
involved in providing higher quality food, thereby reducing world
poverty, help poor farmers raise their incomes, pollution control,
resource conservation, reduced drudgery.

12. Recommendations
 Outstanding research graduates from the university should
equally be considered and sponsored to further their research
work
 A broad and practical science oriented education is needed to
help create agricultural engineers who can respond to the
challenges they will undoubtedly meet in the future.

13. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING