Co-Operative Occupational Education: A Tool for Preparing the Nigerian Youth for Employment in Agriculture

This study looks at the concept of cooperative occupational education and its needs in Nigeria. It also examined the justifications for cooperative occupation experience programme, need for cooperation between the school and the employers and how best to plan, execute and evaluate cooperative occupation education programmes in Nigeria. It highlighted the need and significance of partnership between industry and education for the purpose of generating an essential skilled work force for Nigeria. It revealed that, vocationally oriented classrooms instruction coupled with a well planned cooperative occupational experience programme will go a long way in preparing the Nigerian youth for entry and advancement in agricultural and related occupations thereby reducing the drop-out, unemployment rates and also making the Nigerian youth marketable in the world of work.