FG introduces ‘grow what you eat’ initiative to boost school agriculture
The federal government has introduced the ‘Grow What You Eat’ programme as part of efforts to rejuvenate agricultural practices in senior secondary schools nationwide.
Prof. Ahmad, who was represented by Kehinde Osinaike, Deputy Director in the Science and Technology Department of the ministry, stated that the programme aims to enhance agricultural education through hands-on school farming activities.
She stated, “Let me begin by commending the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) for taking this bold step to align education with national priorities in food security, practical skills development and youth empowerment. I also commend the management and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Abuja, for hosting this important event.”
“The ‘grow what you eat’ initiative is not just about farming. It is about cultivating a mindset of self-reliance, innovation, and responsibility among our young people. It is about reconnecting our students to the land and showing them that agriculture is not a punishment but a pathway to prosperity.”
“Today’s event marks the beginning of a new era, where school farming is repositioned as a tool for experimental learning, economic empowerment and sustainable development. By integrating classroom knowledge with hands-on practice, we are not only preparing our students for examination but also for life.”
Dr. Iyela Ajayi, the Executive Director of NSSEC, explained that the pilot stage of the initiative will involve 20 senior secondary schools selected from all six geopolitical zones.
He mentioned that the respective state Commissioners will choose schools participating in the programme for Education.
Dr. Ajayi stated: “‘Grow what you eat’ is not just a school project; it is a national intervention. It is a vision of transforming school farms into hubs of agricultural learning, enterprise development and community service. By engaging our students in structured agricultural activities, we aim to cultivate not just crops but also discipline, entrepreneurship, responsibility and resilience.”
“Our pilot phase targets 20 senior secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. These schools, nominated by the Commissioners for Education from their respective states, will serve as a proof of concept for a national scale-up that we envision shortly.”
To aid the execution of the project, Ajayi noted that the commission has equipped desk officers with training, created a detailed action plan, supplied initial funding for launch, set up a tracking system to monitor progress, and opened discussions with key ministries, departments, agencies, and technical collaborators.
“This is not just about growing food, it is about growing futures. It is about raising a generation that will not only be literate but also productive, self-reliant and solution-oriented,” the executive secretary added.
Mohammed Salihu, who is Head of Teacher Development and International Partnership at NSSEC, stated that although a small amount of seed funding has been given to participating schools to start the programme, plans are already underway to expand it to every senior secondary school in Nigeria by partnering with appropriate stakeholders.
