The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, has endorsed the newly formed Association of Agricultural Research Institutes and Colleges Public Relations Officers (AARIC-PRO), describing the initiative as a timely step toward strengthening institutional communication and professionalism across the ARCN system.
Dr. Dabban gave the endorsement on Monday, April 27, 2026, while receiving the pioneer executive members of the association during a courtesy visit to his office. The visit was aimed at securing institutional backing for the professionalisation and strategic integration of Public Relations Officers across research institutes and colleges under ARCN.
The engagement followed an earlier correspondence titled “Introduction and Request for Courtesy Visit: Strategic Re-Engineering and Professional Integration of Public Relations within the ARCN Ecosystem.”
Speaking during the meeting, the Founding National Coordinator of AARIC-PRO, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Khadija Ameen, said the association was established to reposition Public Relations from a routine information service unit into a strategic management function. According to her, this would enhance institutional visibility, boost stakeholder confidence, and support national priorities in agriculture, food security and economic development.
She noted that the initiative aligned with the Executive Secretary’s communication and visibility drive observed during his nationwide familiarisation tour of ARCN institutes and colleges.
Other founding members present at the meeting included Asagunla Oluwafunke of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure; Aishatu Samaila of the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadinkowa; and Ogunderu Olugbenga Itunu of the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan.
In his response, Dr. Dabban urged the association to submit a formal proposal through the Directorate of Administration for approval. He assured that upon adoption, the Council would direct Provosts and Heads of Institutions to establish fully functional Public Relations offices, provide necessary tools, and support structured capacity development for officers.
He further stated that PR Officers across institutions would serve as outstation communication representatives of ARCN within a coordinated strategic communication network linked to the Office of the Executive Secretary. Emphasising the importance of standardisation, he directed all officers to obtain certification from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) within six months, stressing that professionalism “has come to stay.”
Also speaking, the Director of Administration, Mrs. Kalimat Balogun, commended the formation of AARIC-PRO, noting that it came at a critical time. Drawing from her experience in broadcast media and institutional communication, she highlighted the need for structured PR units to enhance institutional visibility and public engagement.
As part of resolutions reached at the meeting, stakeholders agreed to institute quarterly coordination meetings for PR Officers across ARCN institutions, ensure regular reporting of communication activities, and promote continuous capacity building through trainings, workshops and conferences.
Institutions were also encouraged to publish quarterly magazines showcasing achievements, research outputs and milestones, with copies submitted to ARCN. Additionally, a collaborative publication featuring contributions from all colleges was proposed.
The Executive Secretary also expressed strong support for the maiden AARIC-PRO conference scheduled for October 2026 and urged early preparations, indicating his willingness to participate.
The AARIC-PRO proposal will be forwarded to the Director of Administration for processing and eventual adoption across the ARCN ecosystem, marking a significant move to institutionalise Public Relations as a strategic management function in Nigeria’s agricultural research and training institutions.
