The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has marked the first anniversary of the appointment of its Executive Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, highlighting a year of strategic reforms, institutional strengthening, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s agricultural research system.
According to an official signed statement by the Public Relations Officer to the Executive Secretary, ARCN, Khadijat O. Ameen, Dr. Dabban, who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, assumed office on June 12, 2025, and has since pursued an ambitious agenda focused on improving governance, enhancing research capacity, promoting staff welfare, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, and advancing the National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
The statement noted that under Dr. Dabban’s leadership, ARCN has recorded significant milestones across its network of National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs), reinforcing the council’s role in driving agricultural innovation and food security.
As part of efforts to strengthen governance and institutional efficiency, the Executive Secretary reorganized departmental leadership in line with existing regulations, institutionalized monthly management meetings, and established statutory and ad-hoc committees to improve decision-making processes. He also initiated the review of the Conditions and Scheme of Service and directed all NARIs and FCAs to submit periodic performance reports to enhance monitoring, evaluation, and accountability.
In the area of partnerships and resource mobilization, ARCN signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to support research and development activities in NARIs and FCAs. The council also secured commitments from the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to support agricultural research and extension programmes nationwide.
The statement further disclosed that Dr. Dabban strengthened ARCN’s collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and facilitated strategic agreements with the European Universities Network for Agriculture and related institutions through Memoranda of Understanding with EUNAP and EERC, alongside the establishment of implementation committees. He also facilitated the participation of NARIs and FCAs in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Global Internship Programme to enhance international exposure and knowledge exchange.
A major achievement during the period under review was the training of 200 youths from across West Africa in modern aquaculture practices. The programme covered areas such as Black Soldier Fly larvae production, freshwater, brackish and marine fish production, fish processing and packaging, value addition, aquaculture economics, and business planning.
ARCN also hosted the CORAF Workshop on Foresight Analysis Methods and Tools in Abuja for the first time and organized the RISA-CONESAM Workshop on Research-to-Commercialization to promote the translation of research outcomes into market-driven solutions.
In the area of human resource development, Dr. Dabban coordinated the appointment of three Acting Executive Directors and five Acting Provosts and supervised aptitude tests for substantive appointments. The statement added that his administration successfully resolved labour-related disputes, fostering industrial harmony across the council’s institutions.
As part of staff welfare initiatives, ARCN repaired two staff buses, recovered abandoned official vehicles, and reassigned them to improve operational efficiency.
The council also recorded progress in communication and public engagement through the re-engineering of ARCN TV and the strengthening of advocacy and visibility platforms aimed at promoting research outcomes and institutional activities.
According to the statement, Dr. Dabban further supported the establishment and governance of the Association of Research Institutes and Colleges Public Relations Officers (AARIC-PRO), an initiative designed to promote professional recognition, institutional strengthening, and certification frameworks within the public relations cadre.
One of the most notable achievements recorded during the year was Nigeria’s successful bid to host the 9th African Agricultural Science Week and the 10th Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly. The development is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading voice in agricultural research and innovation on the continent.
The statement noted that as ARCN enters its second year under Dr. Dabban’s stewardship, the council remains committed to deepening institutional reforms, mobilizing additional resources, accelerating the commercialization of research outputs, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the Federal Government’s food security agenda.
Stakeholders, according to the statement, have described the Executive Secretary’s first year in office as one marked by visionary leadership, strategic reforms, and measurable progress that have strengthened the institutional framework of ARCN and enhanced its capacity to drive sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria and across Africa.
