The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has strengthened its international partnerships as it hosted a delegation from a Spanish Corporation on a working visit to its headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation, led by Beatriz Navalón, said the visit was aimed at reaffirming the organisation’s collaboration with the Regional Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture an ARCN-domiciled hub driving capacity-building and economic empowerment for women and young people in Nigeria.
Navalón noted that the partnership continues to support programmes that improve livelihoods through aquaculture development.
Welcoming the team, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, alongside senior management and members of the Regional Centre of Excellence, expressed appreciation for the sustained collaboration and its positive impact on Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The Coordinator of the Centre, Dr. Charity Obetta, described the collaboration as timely, especially as many young Nigerians and women require viable economic pathways. She explained that the Centre’s mandate is to strengthen the aquaculture value chain by training beneficiaries in critical areas such as fish seed production, table-size fish production, processing, feed formulation, and aquaculture trade.
Also speaking during the visit, Dr. Aliyu Shuaibu Madugu, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, highlighted ARCN’s long-standing interventions that continue to contribute to national food security. He noted that international partnerships such as the one with the Spanish Corporation remain vital to Nigeria’s agricultural research and development efforts.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitment from both institutions to expand programmes that enhance innovation, build skills, and support Nigeria’s food sustainability initiatives.