Speaker
Description
Oluwaremilekun, O. O.
Federal College of Education Abeokuta
onioluwakemi873@gmail.com
Track: Research, Innovation and Knowledge Ecosystems
Education as the Nexus of Food Security: Reframing Tertiary Agricultural Pedagogy for Sustainable Development Goals Among Graduate Youth in Ogun State, Nigeria1Oni, O. Oluwakemi and 2Adeoye A. Stephen1Department of Agricultural Education, School of Secondary Education (Vocational Education). Federal College of Education (FCE), Abeokuta. P.M.B.2096 Abeokuta Ogun State, Nigeria.2Department of Social Science and Humanities Studies. School of Secondary Education (General Studies in Education). Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. P.M.B 2096. Sapon Abeokuta. Ogun State, Nigeria.Corresponding Email; onioluwakemi896@gmail.com and adeoyestephen@gmail.com Telephone nos: 07030608191 and 08039519954Abstract Reconceptualizing the nexus between human capital and food systems is paramount for the realization of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the African context. This investigation scrutinizes the engagement of Graduate Youth in sustainable agricultural practices and its implications for food security in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, through the framework of synchronizing higher education ecosystems with the prerequisites of future-oriented sustainable development. Employing a multi-stage sampling methodology, primary data was amassed from 112 rural youth participants via structured questionnaires and subsequently examined utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The results indicated a predominantly literate youth population (83.9% possessing formal education) who are actively involved in agricultural production (42.9%) and livestock rearing. Agriculture was found to play a substantial role in augmenting youth income (x̅ = 2.68) and enhancing community food supply (x̅ = 2.72). Nonetheless, participation is critically hampered by institutional and environmental constraints, including a deficiency of financial credit (x = 2.96), climate variability (x̅ = 2.73), and insufficient extension services (x̅ = 2.63). Importantly, Chi-square analysis illustrated a significant correlation between educational attainment and the youth's contributions to food security (χ² = 34.435, df = 3, p < 0.05), whereas other socio-economic variables demonstrated non-significance. This paper posits that mitigating the digital divide through the reform of tertiary agricultural curricula to incorporate smart AgriTech, sustainable skills, and digital extension methodologies is essential for transitioning graduate youth from subsistence roles to sustainable agripreneurship. The study concludes that the reconfiguration of the African higher education ecosystem is a strategic imperative for ensuring long-term food security and facilitating rural economic transformation.Keywords: Higher Education Ecosystems; Digital Divide; Graduate; Youth Agripreneurship; Food Security; SDGs; Nigeria.