The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), in partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), convened the National Stakeholders’ Forum on Agricultural Research Capabilities in Abuja.
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, described the forum as a strategic platform to reflect, celebrate, and most importantly, envision the future of agricultural research in Nigeria.”
Dr. Dabban highlighted several achievements of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) over the years, but however called for sustained efforts to enhance research impact across the agricultural sector.
The ARCN boss also used the opportunity to announce a renewed commitment to completing ongoing projects and launching new initiatives aligned with the councils strategic goals and the broader objectives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Other speakers at the event emphasized the need for increased funding and stronger policy support from the federal government to ensure a robust and sustainable agricultural research system capable of meeting future challenges.
The forum, themed “Research Capabilities in Nigeria: The Journey So Far,” marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest to strengthen its agricultural research ecosystem and ensure national food security through science, innovation, and strategic collaboration.
It brought together key stakeholders from government agencies, research institutes, universities, international development partners, and the private sector.
