Self-Esteem of Agriculture Students at the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract The study investigated self-esteem of Agriculture students of Conventional and agriculture based Universities in Southwestern, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 117 and 124 students for the study in Conventional University and Agriculture based University respectively. A structured questionnaire was used in data collection and analysed with percentages, Chi-square, PPMC and independent t-test at p≤0.05. The mean age of the students in Conventional University (UI) and Agriculture based University (FUNAAB) were 21.9 ± 2.7 years and 21.9 ± 2.6 years respectively. The students from UI preferred Medicine (=1.14), had unfavourable perception (87.2%) towards Agriculture and low self-esteem (85.5%) while students from FUNAAB preferred Agriculture (=1.48), had favourable perception (82.7%) towards Agriculture and high self-esteem (89.5%). Self-esteem is significantly related to family structure and preferred course of study in UI while gender and perception towards Agriculture is significantly related to self-esteem of students in FUNAAB. There is significant difference between self-esteem of students in UI and FUNAAB and between 100 level and 500 level students in UI. The study recommended that course Advisers and Councilors in schools should prioritise and promote careers and opportunities in Agriculture to make it popular, attractive and create awareness on the potentials in Agriculture