RismadarVoice Reporters,May 14, 2026
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union has called for broader incentives to address the declining interest in teacher education and agricultural science programmes across the country.
The union said recent measures, including the waiver of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination requirements for some Nigerian Certificate in Education agricultural programmes, are insufficient to reverse the trend without additional support for students and professionals in the sector.
Speaking at the end of the union’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, COEASU President, Ahmed Lawan Bazza, said the persistent drop in applications for teacher education and agricultural science courses remains a major concern.
According to him, the programmes are among the least subscribed to in tertiary institutions despite their importance to national development and food security.
Bazza stressed that restoring confidence and interest in the teaching profession would require more attractive incentives, improved welfare packages, and policies capable of making the sector more competitive and rewarding.
He noted that beyond admission waivers, the government must prioritise measures that enhance the status of teachers and encourage young Nigerians to pursue careers in education and agriculture.
The union also urged the Federal Government to fast-track ongoing reforms and intervention programmes aimed at supporting poverty alleviation and human capital development.
COEASU maintained that strengthening teacher education and agricultural training institutions remains critical to achieving sustainable national growth and addressing unemployment challenges.
