Critical Challenges of Pre and Post Service Extension Education and Training in Nigeria

The challenges of extension education and training in Nigeria are inherent in the nature and characteristics of the extensionist himself, the trainers, training needs and the ability of the training institutions and agencies to develop and deliver appropriate training programmes relevant to the system. The demand for functional pre and post service extension education in Nigeria is deeply rooted in the level of technological complexity of modern society. Extension education and training are geared towards achieving functional change in behaviour. Actualizing this purpose is faced with a myriad of challenges including the turbulent and unstable Nigerian political system, misplaced priorities, poor policy decision and implementation, rapid development in science and technology, dearth of facilities and infrastructure in extension education and training institutions, poor funding and its adverse consequences and problems associated with information/communication technologies access and utilization. Contemporary education and training programmes in the extension system should clearly address these challenges. This paper recommends solutions to the challenges vis-à-vis keeping pace with the rate of the world’s technological/agricultural development.