INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ROBOTICS INTO NIGERIAN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Advancement in sciences and technology all over the world is bringing changes to educational systems and agricultural practices throughout the world. Hence, advent of  Artificial Intelligence and Robotics have been regarded as a life-changing instrument for achieving improved productivity, decision making and learning. In the context of agricultural education system, these advancements offer a significant privilege to strengthen educational methods, develop research innovation and connect theoretical teaching and actual agricultural practices. Meanwhile, with the rapid pace of technological advancements, the integration of AI and robotics into Nigerian agricultural education is still quite limited. On this premise, this paper investigated the prospects and challenges of integrating Artificial Intelligence and Robotics into Nigeria Agricultural Education system. This theoretical paper, grounded in the frameworks of Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Constructivist Learning Theory, delves into the challenges in integrating AI and Robotic Science to agricultural education such as poor infrastructure, gaps in digital literacy, misaligned curricula, stagnant policies, and cultural resistance, and offers strategies for meaningful change. By tackling these systemic challenges, Nigerian agricultural education has the potential to drive technological innovation, empower the youth, and promote sustainable agricultural development. Keywords: Pedagogy, curriculum, technology, innovation, agric-tech