The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has called on Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) across the country to intensify efforts in training, research, and extension services in alignment with the Federal Government’s food security agenda.
Dr. Dabban made this call during an official visit to the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FECA), where he commended the college’s management and staff for their resilience and dedication despite prevailing sectoral challenges. He emphasized the pivotal role of FCAs in advancing the mandates of the ARCN and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“Agriculture remains a key pillar of Nigeria’s economy, with even greater expectations under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the declared emergency on food security,” Dr. Dabban stated.
He stressed the need to strengthen agricultural research, training, and extension services to drive innovation, enhance productivity, and support Nigeria’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that ARCN is currently engaging with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to ensure the agricultural research subsector benefits from its interventions. He further revealed that the Council has reactivated the review of the Conditions and Schemes of Service for National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and FCAs, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, with the aim of improving staff welfare and institutional efficiency.
Ongoing reforms within the Council include strengthening the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, updating management guidelines for both NARIs and FCAs, and advocating for enhanced laboratories, workshops, and infrastructure across institutions.
Dr. Dabban also issued several directives to the Colleges, including:
Timely submission of annual budgets, quarterly and annual reports
Annual updates of staff nominal rolls
Early submission of promotion lists and supporting documentation
Communication of newly developed research technologies to the Council for system-wide dissemination
Maintaining proper communication channels with ARCN
He emphasized the need for continued innovation, collaboration, and respect for institutional processes, adding, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that agriculture drives national growth, job creation, and food security.”
During the visit, Dr. Dabban also provided insights into the ongoing efforts to establish a distinct and comprehensive Conditions of Service tailored separately for agricultural colleges and research institutes.
In his response, the Acting Provost of FECA, Prof. Alayande Folorunsho, expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary and the ARCN leadership for their support. He appealed for renewed interventions from ETF and TETFund to address the pressing infrastructural needs of agricultural institutions.
Prof. Folorunsho also raised concerns about land encroachment and insecurity, stating that staff and students no longer feel safe on campus. He appealed to the Executive Secretary to intervene and help resolve the issue to protect the college’s land and ensure a secure environment for learning and research.
