The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to driving food sustainability in Nigeria through a strengthened agricultural research system.
Dr. Dabban gave the assurance during a working visit to the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Idofian, and the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, both in Kwara State.
Commending the management and staff of the two institutions for their dedication despite sectoral challenges, Dr. Dabban emphasized that the institutes play a crucial role in advancing the mandate of the Council and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
He noted that agriculture remains a key driver of Nigeria’s economy, with even greater expectations under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s declared emergency on food security.
“We must strengthen research, training, and extension to fast-track innovation, boost productivity, and help Nigeria achieve the SDGs by 2030,” Dabban stated.
He disclosed that ARCN is currently engaging with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to ensure the agricultural research subsector benefits from its interventions.
According to him, the Council has also re-initiated the review of the Conditions and Schemes of Service for the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs), in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, aimed at improving staff welfare and institutional performance.
Dr. Dabban further revealed that the ongoing reforms include strengthening the Monitoring and Evaluation system, updating management guidelines for NARIs and FCAs, and advocating for upgraded laboratories, workshops, and infrastructure across institutions.
He urged the institutes to redouble their efforts in training, research, and extension services in line with the Federal Government’s food security agenda.
“Forward new research technologies developed to the Council for system-wide updates.”
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure agriculture drives growth, creates jobs, and guarantees food security for our nation,” he added.
Speaking further, the Executive Secretary explained the ongoing process of developing detailed Conditions of Service for both the colleges and the institutes, assuring that the review will soon be concluded.
On their part, the Executive Director of NCAM, Dr. Kamal Abdulgafar Rasheed, and the Executive Director of NSPRI, Prof. Lateef Sani, highlighted their institutes’ ongoing activities and called for more funding, interventions, and visibility for their research outcomes.
Tinubu Prioritizing Food Sustainability Through Research Reforms – Dabban
