Speaker
Description
Yunusa, M. M.
Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum
muhammadymachar@gmail.com
Track: Digital Pedagogy and Teaching Innovation
The fast advancement of digital technologies is transforming global agricultural systems, opening up new opportunities for productivity, revamp and sustainable development. However, significant disparities in digital technology access and literacy persist in Nigeria’s urban and rural communities. The rural digital divide limits many students, educators and future agricultural professionals’ access to emerging digital tools and knowledge systems. As agriculture embraces digital innovations such as precision farming, mobile-based extension services, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems and data-driven decision-making, agricultural education must play a more strategic role in preparing students to participate in the digital economy. This paper examines the potential for technology-enhanced agricultural education to bridge Nigeria’s rural digital divide. It explores how incorporating digital technologies into teaching and learning can improve access to quality agricultural education, promote digital literacy and provide students with the skills needed for modern agricultural practice. The paper emphasizes the role of learner-centered digital pedagogies, such as virtual demonstrations, online collaborative learning, digital simulations, mobile learning applications and smart farming technologies, in increasing student engagement and practical skill development. Drawing on existing literature, policy frameworks and emerging trends in agricultural education, the paper identifies key barriers to the effective adoption of educational technologies in rural institutions, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited internet connectivity, insufficient funding, insufficient teacher capacity and unequal access to digital devices. It also discusses strategies for addressing these challenges, including increased government support, public-private partnerships and investment in rural digital infrastructure, building of capacity for educators and the creation of context-specific digital learning resources. The paper concludes that bridging the rural digital divide through technology-enhanced agricultural education is critical for producing a resilient, skilled and future-ready agricultural workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s agricultural reforming in the digital age.