ARCN Advocates Collaboration Across Regional, Global Levels To Promote Agriculture

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN has emphasized the urgent need to strengthen research governance, invest in human and institutional capacity, and foster collaboration across national, regional, and global levels to secure the future of agriculture in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr. Abubakar Dabban made the call at the maiden edition of the National Stakeholders’ Forum on Agricultural Research Capabilities, held in Abuja.

According to him, the forum was convened to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to brainstorm and generate ideas and strategies to strengthen the country’s agricultural research system.

Dr. Dabban noted that Nigeria’s agriculture stands at a critical crossroad, confronted by challenges such as climate change and rapid population growth. He emphasized the need to leverage science, technology, and innovation to drive food security and transform livelihoods.

In their separate goodwill messages, the representative of the Committee of Directors of Research Institutes (CODRI), Prof. Mohammed Atanda; the representative of Research Institutes, Dr. Lelia Dongo and the representative of Colleges of Agriculture, Dr. Ademola Raji described the forum as a step in the right direction. They also highlighted some of the challenges bedeviling the sector, including inadequate funding and obsolete policies.

Presenting the evolution of the ARCN, Dr. Shuaib Madugu underscored the Council’s achievements and revealed that plans are underway to develop a research master plan aimed at ensuring food sovereignty.

The forum concluded with a call for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to build a resilient agricultural research system capable of addressing national challenges and contributing to food security, economic growth, and sustainable development.

Aisha Adesanya, Edited By Grace Namiji