By Faridat Salifu
The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) are promoting early agricultural education to equip pupils with practical skills and encourage entrepreneurship from a young age.
The agencies disclosed this in a report published on October 24, 2026, following a one-day career talk themed “Rooted in Passion: Finding Your Super Power in Agriculture.” The date of the event itself was not specified.
Chairman of SUBEB, Mrs Fidelia Okpo Ene, represented by Board Member Two, Mrs Theresa Essien, said introducing pupils to agriculture could help them recognise its potential beyond classroom learning.
Essien urged learners to embrace agricultural education, innovation and practical skills, describing the sector as a source of employment, food security and wealth creation.
She said the board remained committed to initiatives that equip pupils with relevant knowledge for self-reliance and sustainable development.
UBEC State Coordinator, Dr Omuta Obanovwe, said agricultural education should extend beyond traditional farming to include diverse opportunities for enterprise and economic growth.
He called on teachers and school administrators to sustain pupils’ interest through hands-on learning, noting that practical experience would help them develop skills they could apply beyond school.
“Agricultural education must go beyond classroom instruction to give learners practical experience and the skills to become self-reliant,” Obanovwe said.
Director of Academic Services, Mrs Caroline Ana, described food production as essential to human survival and encouraged pupils to appreciate agriculture’s role in supporting individuals, families and communities.
“No farmer, no food; no food, no life,” Ana said, urging learners to consider agriculture as a career that could provide livelihoods while contributing to societal development.
The programme also featured presentations by facilitators and goodwill messages from the Secretary of the State Committee of the Young Farmers Club, Mr Theophilus Lebo, and other participants, who stressed the importance of introducing children to agricultural practices early.
The initiative reflects efforts by SUBEB and UBEC to broaden basic education through practical learning and expose pupils to opportunities in agricultural entrepreneurship, food production and sustainable development.
