The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has declared open the maiden edition of the National Stakeholders’ Forum on Agricultural Research Capabilities, held on Wednesday, 10th September 2025, in Abuja.
The Forum, jointly convened by ARCN and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), was also supported by the Committee of Directors of Research Institutes (CODRI) and the National Committee of Heads of Colleges of Agriculture and Related Disciplines (NACHCARD).
In his opening remarks, Dr. Dabban described the Forum as a strategic platform “to reflect, celebrate, and envision the future of agricultural research in Nigeria.” He said the theme of the Forum, “Research Capabilities in Nigeria: The Journey So Far”, was both timely and instructive, as it provided an opportunity to assess past achievements and chart a course for future growth. He also proposed that the Forum should be institutionalized as an annual event to sustain stakeholder engagement and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural research system.
The ARCN boss highlighted the milestones of the Nigerian National Agricultural Research System (NARS), noting significant progress in human resources, technological innovations, infrastructure, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination. He emphasized that these achievements were made possible through strong partnerships with government, development partners, national and international research institutions, the private sector, and farming communities.
Dr. Dabban acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the CGIAR family, ECOWAS, AATF, FARA, CORAF, universities, and private sector actors, describing their support as invaluable to Nigeria’s agricultural research development. He also paid tribute to the sectoral leaders and founding fathers of ARCN for laying the foundation upon which today’s progress is built.
Looking ahead, he pledged ARCN’s commitment to consolidating the gains of its predecessors by pursuing initiatives aligned with its mandate and the strategic goals of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. He explained that the Council was working to develop a second-generation strategic and operational plan, review and strengthen the conditions and schemes of service for ARCN, NARIs and FCAs, and ensure the effective implementation of the ARCN (Amended) Act 2021. He also noted that the Guidelines for the Management of NARIs and FCAs, last reviewed in 2009, would be updated to reflect current realities.
Dr. Dabban emphasized the need to strengthen research governance, invest in human and institutional capacity, and deepen collaborations nationally, regionally, and globally to address challenges such as climate change and population growth.
While thanking IITA, CODRI, and NACHCARD for their partnership in making the Forum possible, he urged participants to see the gathering as both reflective and catalytic, generating insights that will shape a forward-looking agricultural research agenda for Nigeria.
He concluded by declaring the maiden edition of the National Agricultural Research Forum open, expressed confidence that the deliberations would produce outcomes that will strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural research system and advance food security.
