By Nkechi Eze
Towards repositioning Nigeria’s agricultural research and innovation system for greater impact and sustainability, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has pledged its firm commitment to the full implementation of the ARCN (Amended) Act 2021. The Act, which was enacted to reform and strengthen the Council’s mandate, expands its oversight over National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs), and other related institutions, while providing a stronger legal framework for governance, accountability, and innovation in the sector.
The Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, gave the assurance at the Maiden National Stakeholders’ Forum on Agricultural Research Capabilities, held in Abuja. The event, which drew participants from across the public and private sectors, development partners, researchers, academia and farmers’ organizations, was convened in collaboration with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Committee of Directors of Research Institutes (CODRI), and the National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines (NACHCARD). Its theme, “Research Capabilities in Nigeria: The Journey So Far,” provided a platform to reflect on achievements, challenges, and opportunities in the agricultural research landscape.
Describing the forum as “catalytic,” Dr. Dabban noted that it offered the nation an opportunity to take stock of progress, identify existing gaps, and set a forward-looking agenda anchored on the amended ARCN Act. “It offers us an opportunity to take stock of our achievements, identify gaps, and set a forward-looking agenda anchored on the full implementation of the amended ARCN Act, which provides a renewed legal and strategic framework for Nigeria’s agricultural research ecosystem,” he said.
Reaffirming ARCN’s renewed commitment to driving reforms, the Executive Secretary disclosed that the Council had already initiated critical actions in line with the amended Act. These include the development of second-generation Strategic and Operational Plans for the Council, revisiting the Conditions and Schemes of Service for ARCN, NARIs, and FCAs, re-examining the report of the Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Act to ensure full execution, and undertaking an immediate review and update of the Guidelines for Management of NARIs and FCAs, last revised in 2009. “These reforms are essential to ensuring that our institutions are not only compliant with the provisions of the amended Act but are also positioned to deliver research that is responsive to national needs, climate-smart, and globally competitive,” Dr. Dabban stressed.
The event also featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders. Representing CODRI, Professor Atanda praised the forum as a bold step toward strengthening research institutions, while Dr. Lelia Dongo, speaking for the Research Institutes, called for enhanced synergy across the national research system. Dr. Adekok Raji, representing the Colleges of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration in aligning research with the pressing challenges of food security, rural development, and climate resilience.
Participants at the forum commended the leadership of ARCN for driving the reforms with renewed vigour and expressed strong support for the full operationalization of the amended Act. They underscored that its provisions, if faithfully implemented, would address long-standing structural and governance challenges within Nigeria’s agricultural research system. They further urged greater investment in infrastructure, talent development, and partnerships to ensure that innovations generated within research institutions transition seamlessly from laboratory to land, thereby improving livelihoods and strengthening food security.
The consensus at the forum was that with the ARCN Act 2021 as a compass, Nigeria’s agricultural research and innovation system is poised for transformation, one that will not only reposition the sector for national development but also ensure that Nigerian agriculture is resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive.
