purpose of the study was to ascertain the training needs for potential extension agents in the northern states of Nigeria. This could facilitate the development of an appropriate program of training to provide agents with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that would make I ore competent and proficient in their jobs. The training needs were identified from 126 specific topics of training in seven general areas. Data on training needs and relat extension questions were obtained through questionnaires administered to experienced agents at in-service training meetings by extension specialists of Ahmadu Bello University. A total of 189 junior and 96 senior extension staff from the six northern state: responded. This represented nearly 68 percent of junior staff in the sample and 50 percent of senior stafi ged in exti work in the northern states. Analysis of the data collected was made by comparing response of agents based on the independent variables of status, tenure and i ricultural training. The opinion of agents about the seven general areas of training and other extension topics were also compared by states. Significant differences in the opinions of junior and senior extension staff were determined by the use of the "Student's" t-test on weighted mean scores calculated for the various topics. Responses of agents by tenure and agricultural background were analyzed by means of the Chi-square statistic. Significant relationships were tested at the five percent level. The results of the study appeared to support the following conclusions: