The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has emphasized the vital role of Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) in strengthening Nigeria’s food security through innovation, research, and capacity building.
Dr. Dabban made this known during a familiarization visit to the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, where he commended the leadership and staff for their resilience and contributions despite sectoral challenges. He noted that the visit offered him a platform to appreciate the Colleges’ achievements, understand their operational hurdles, and reinforce collaborative efforts toward fulfilling ARCN’s mandate.
In a statement issued by Khadijat Oluwatoyin Ameen, Head of Public Relations at ARCN, Dr. Dabban highlighted that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation depends heavily on the vibrancy of institutions within the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). He noted that this is especially crucial within the context of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the recently declared state of emergency on food security.
“We must scale up manpower development, vocational skill training, and the dissemination of research-based technologies that will drive innovation, boost productivity, and increase agriculture’s contribution to the GDP,” Dr. Dabban said.
He urged the Colleges to align their operations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas that can fast-track national development by 2030.
Dr. Dabban also outlined ongoing institutional reforms, including the review of Conditions and Schemes of Service for both the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and FCAs. These reforms are being developed in partnership with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. He further revealed that ARCN is enhancing its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, revising management guidelines, and engaging TETFund to expand its intervention to agricultural institutions.
These efforts, he said, are geared towards improving staff welfare, institutional performance, and the modernization of infrastructure in Colleges across the country.
He directed all FCAs to ensure the timely submission of annual budgets, quarterly and annual reports, updated nominal rolls, and comprehensive records of research technologies developed. Emphasizing the importance of world-class laboratories and workshops, he called on the institutions to fully cooperate with ARCN officials and uphold excellence in their operations.
“Research and training are central to Nigeria’s economic growth and food security. Our institutions must continue to innovate and collaborate,” he stressed.
Welcoming the ARCN delegation, Prof. Jonathan J. Atungwu, Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, described the visit as a significant milestone in the history of the College, which was founded in 1921 as one of West Africa’s premier agricultural institutions. He expressed optimism that the engagement would pave the way for enhanced collaboration in research, academic development, and community-focused initiatives.
Also speaking, Prof. Gabriel Oluwatosin, Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, highlighted the Institute’s core mandates in soil science, grain and legume research, and value addition. He noted that IAR&T currently oversees three Colleges, reflecting a strong model of inter-institutional cooperation supporting Nigeria’s agricultural research and development.
In his remarks, Dr. Chidi Okpeze, Acting Provost of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan, lauded the Executive Secretary’s visit, expressing confi…