By Nkechi Eze
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s food security drive through enhanced plant breeding research, as it pledged full support for the forthcoming conference of the Plant Breeders Association of Nigeria.
The pledge was made by the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Dabban, while receiving a delegation of the association in his office on Monday, February 16, 2026. In an official statement signed by the Public Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary, Khadijat O. Ameen, the ARCN boss assured the delegation of the council’s readiness to support the conference, emphasizing the critical importance of plant breeding in advancing agricultural research and ensuring sustainable food production in the country.
Dr. Dabban stressed the urgent need to revive and strengthen the teaching of plant breeding in agricultural colleges, polytechnics, and institutes, warning that the discipline risks fading into extinction if deliberate steps are not taken. According to him, “the collaborative efforts of training and bringing the course to the colleges and polytechnics will go a long way in keeping the discipline not to go into extinction.” He added that studying plant breeding at the tertiary level would help Nigeria produce more professionals capable of driving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda, noting that the association must also focus on training young people in the sector to make the profession more attractive and sustainable.
Also speaking during the visit, the Director of Plant Resources at ARCN, Dr. Oluwafemi Salako, highlighted the urgency of taking proactive measures to preserve the discipline, describing the proposed conference and collaboration as timely and necessary. He said the council fully welcomes the initiative and stands ready to provide the needed institutional backing.
On his part, the Director of Knowledge Management and Communications, Dr. Nuhu Yusuf, emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing and dissemination, noting that the conference would provide a valuable platform for intellectual exchange. He disclosed that since the council has approved hosting the conference, plant breeders should take advantage of ARCN’s journal review platforms to ensure proper documentation and dissemination of research findings for national development.
The Deputy Director of Plant Resources, Hajara Buba, also underscored the indispensable role of plant breeders in national development, pointing out that existing challenges, particularly in capacity development and training, must be urgently addressed to secure the future of agricultural innovation in Nigeria.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, a professor and representative of the association, expressed appreciation to the Executive Secretary for the warm reception and support, assuring that the planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding would accelerate the training of students and staff across institutions under ARCN. “We are willing to collaborate,” he stated, explaining that the partnership would help build the next generation of plant breeding professionals in the country.
Similarly, the National Public Relations Officer of the association commended the council’s leadership and reiterated the association’s readiness to support its initiatives, including activities in Wase. He also proposed the establishment of a dedicated plant breeding institution in Nigeria, expressing confidence that the council’s support would help bring the vision to reality. He added that if the teaching of plant breeding in all agricultural institutions becomes fully implemented, the association would provide maximum support to ensure its success.
The planned conference is expected to serve as a strategic platform for advancing plant breeding innovation, strengthening professional capacity, and supporting Nigeria’s broader food sustainability and agricultural transformation agenda.
