AKSU offers the following programmes through this Department:

1. Bachelor of Science (B.Agric) in Agricultural Economics

2. Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Agricultural Economics

3. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics with specialization options including:

   • Agribusiness Management

   • Food Marketing & International Trade

   • Farm Management & Production Economics

   • Consumer Welfare & Food Economics

   • Resource & Environmental Economics

   • Agricultural Project Planning and Appraisal

   • Agricultural Cooperative

   • Agricultural Financial Management

4. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Agricultural Economics with specialization options including:

   • Farm Management and Production Economics

   • Resource and Environmental Economics

   • Agribusiness and Financial Management

   • Agricultural Policy, Planning and Development

   • Agricultural Trade and Marketing

   • Agricultural Project Management and Appraisal

   • Consumer Welfare & Food Economics

   • Food Marketing & International Trade

🎓Undergraduate Studies

University Requirements 

a.) Admission through JAMB and Post UTME

i. Admission into Akwa Ibom State University shall be through Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) OR Direct Entry. In addition to attaining, the general required standard in UTME, candidates must satisfy the general university requirement as well as the specific Faculty and Programs requirement. All Admissions shall be through JAMB.

ii. The candidate must be over 16 years of age by 1st October in the year of admission.

iii. Candidates must possess at least 5 credit passes in relevant subjects (Chemistry, English language, Biology or Agricultural Science, Mathematics or physics and Economics or Geography) at GCE O/L, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents at not more than 2 sittings.

iv. Candidates with Teachers Grade II (TC II) with passes at credit or merit levels in conjunction with credit passes in relevant subjects at GCE, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents may be considered. No subject may be counted at both TC II and GCE O/L, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents.

b.) Admission by Direct Entry

Candidates for Direct Entry Admission must possess any of the following qualifications:

i. Two (2) passes at GCE, A/L, HSC, IJMB or approved equivalents in relevant subjects, and at least credits passes in two other subjects, including English Language, Chemistry, Biology, or Agricultural Science at GCE (O/L), WASCE, SSCE, NECO, or approved equivalents at not more than two sittings.

ii. Two (2) passes at GCE, A/L, HSC, IJMB or approved equivalents in relevant subjects, and at least credits passes in two other subjects, including English Language, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, or Agricultural Science at GCE (O/L), WASCE, SSCE, NECO, or approved equivalents at not more than two sittings.

iii. Two (2) passes at merit or above in two (2) recognized NCE subjects or approved equivalents, and at least 3 credit passes in other subjects, including English Language, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, or Agricultural Science at GCE (O/L), WASCE, SSCE, NECO, or approved equivalents at not more than 2 settings.

Other Admission Requirements

i. A pass in general paper at HSC or approved equivalents would not be accepted as a substitute for a credit pass in English Language at GCE O/L, WASCE, SSCE, NECO or approved equivalents.

ii. Interviews may be conducted as a component of the admission process in addition to UTME or Direct Entry by JAMB. 

iii. Specific Faculty/Departmental Requirements will be stipulated in addition to the general University entry requirements.

Transfer Admission

Candidates with adequate qualifications who wish to transfer from other universities to the Department of Agricultural Economics shall be admitted into either Year II or Year II depending on their qualifications and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) as approved by the University. Such candidates must submit an official transcript from their former Universities. There is no admission beyond Year II.

🎓🎓Postgraduate Studies

Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)

🔸SSCE with 5 credits including English and Mathematics (in not more than 2 sittings)

🔸One of:

• HND in Agriculture with Lower Credit

• Third Class Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture or related science

• HND Pass with six years of cognate experience.

Master of Science (M.Sc.)

🔸SSCE with credits as above

🔸One of:

• Bachelor’s Degree (minimum of Second Class Lower) in Agriculture or science-related discipline

• HND Upper Credit plus PGD at Distinction level.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

🔸SSCE with credits as above

🔸Academic Master's Degree (minimum CGPA of 3.5) in Agricultural Economics or science-related discipline

CONTENTS NEEDED (E.g. The Department publishes the open-access journal AKSUJAEERD (Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension & Rural Development), featuring peer‑reviewed research on topics like e‑readiness of extension personnel, broiler production economics, and more.)  

CONTENT NEEDED (Example:

🔸 University Teaching & Research Farm (23 ha): hosts demonstrations on conservation tillage, integrated pest management and micro‑irrigation.

🔸 ICT Hub: broadband‑enabled labs support remote diagnostics and data analytics for extension surveys.)

💼 Agribusiness & Farm Management

• Agribusiness manager or enterprise developer

• Farm or plantation manager (commercial crops, livestock, or integrated systems)

• Agricultural project planner or investment analyst

• Value chain development officer for crops and livestock enterprises

• Input supply or produce marketing manager
  
  

📊 Finance, Banking & Insurance

• Agricultural loan officer or credit analyst in development and commercial banks

• Financial analyst in agricultural investment firms or cooperatives

• Agricultural insurance underwriter or risk management consultant

• Rural microfinance and cooperative management officer

• Economist in agricultural development institutions (e.g., BOA, CBN-Agri Schemes)
  
  

🌾 Agricultural Policy & Development Planning

• Agricultural policy analyst or advisor in ministries or development agencies

• Rural development officer or planner

• Program manager in NGOs or donor-funded agricultural projects (e.g., IFAD, FAO, USAID)

• Food security and poverty reduction programme coordinator

• Environmental and resource economics specialist
  
  

📈 Marketing & Trade

• Agricultural marketing and logistics officer

• Commodity trader or produce broker (e.g., cocoa, palm oil, cassava, maize)

• Market information systems analyst

• Export and trade compliance officer for agro-products

• Agribusiness marketing consultant or brand strategist
  
  

🎓 Education, Research & Academia

• Lecturer or researcher in agricultural economics, agribusiness, or development economics (with postgraduate qualification)

• Research scientist in policy, production economics, or resource management

• Data analyst or econometrician in agricultural research institutes (e.g., NISER, IITA, ARCN)

• Research and evaluation officer for agricultural programmes
  
  

👩🏽‍🌾 Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services

• Agricultural extension economist or advisory service provider

• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) officer in agricultural projects

• Field operations coordinator for community development initiatives

• Farmer cooperative development officer

• Agripreneurship trainer or capacity-building consultant
  
  

🚜 Entrepreneurship & Private Sector Ventures

• Founder or CEO of agribusiness startup (processing, logistics, or agro-tech)

• Farm enterprise consultant or business planner

• Agro-input distributor or produce aggregator

• Agri-data and technology solutions provider

• Consultant in sustainable agribusiness and investment
  
  

🏛️ Government & Regulatory Agencies

• Economist or planning officer in Federal or State Ministries of Agriculture

• Officer in NAQS, SON, NAFDAC, or FMARD (policy, pricing, or regulation)

• Food systems and agricultural policy development expert

• Statistician or analyst in national planning or agricultural bureaus
  
  

🌍 Specialized & Emerging Fields

• Agricultural data and AI-driven analytics specialist

• Climate-smart agriculture and environmental economics expert

• Rural innovation and agritech consultant

• Development economist in global institutions (World Bank, IFAD, FAO)

• Agrifood systems analyst or sustainability strategist