The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has launched a new agenda aimed at strengthening agricultural research governance and supporting national food security.
Speaking at the maiden National Stakeholders’ Forum on Agricultural Research Capabilities in Abuja, Executive Secretary Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban said the council is driving four key reforms. These include creating a second-generation strategic plan, reviewing conditions of service in agricultural institutions, implementing the amended ARCN Act of 2021, and updating management guidelines last revised in 2009.
The forum was convened with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and supported by CODRI and NACHCARD. It brought together policymakers, researchers, and development partners.
Dr. Dabban praised Nigeria’s research community and international partners like CGIAR, ECOWAS, and AATF, but stressed how agriculture still faces serious challenges from climate change, population growth, and unstable markets. He said the reforms will help reposition the sector to deliver innovation and resilience for farmers and the broader economy.
