ARCN Boss Tasks Federal Colleges of Agriculture on Food Security Mandate
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ARCN Boss Tasks Federal Colleges of Agriculture on Food Security Mandate
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has urged Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs) across the country to redouble their efforts in training, research, and extension services to align with the Federal Government’s food security agenda.
Dabban gave the charge during his working visit to the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, where he commended management and staff for their resilience despite sectoral challenges.
He said the Colleges remained critical to the mandate of the ARCN and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
According to him, agriculture remains a key driver of Nigeria’s economy, with even greater expectations under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the government’s declared emergency on food security.
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“We must strengthen research, training, and extension to fast-track innovation, boost productivity, and help Nigeria achieve the SDGs by 2030,” Dabban stated.
The ARCN boss disclosed that the Council is engaging the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to extend interventions to the agricultural research subsector.
He also announced that a review of the Conditions and Schemes of Service for the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and FCAs, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, was underway to enhance staff welfare and institutional performance.
Highlighting reforms currently in progress, Dabban said the Council was strengthening the Monitoring and Evaluation framework, updating management guidelines for NARIs and FCAs, and pushing for upgraded laboratories, workshops, and infrastructure across the institutions.
He directed the Colleges to ensure timely submission of annual budgets, quarterly and annual reports, and staff nominal rolls.
He further tasked them with forwarding promotion lists with complete documentation ahead of examinations, and promptly sharing new research outputs with the Council for system-wide dissemination.
“Our collective responsibility is to ensure agriculture drives growth, creates jobs, and guarantees food security for our nation,” Dabban stressed, urging the Colleges to accord due respect to ARCN staff on official assignments and sustain collaboration in research and innovation.
Responding, the Acting Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Prof. Alayande Folorunsho, expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary for his support.
He appealed for the return of TETFund interventions for agricultural colleges and institutes, noting that such funding was critical for research and infrastructure development.
Prof. Folorunsho also raised concerns over the encroachment on the College’s land by grabbers, warning that the safety of students and staff was increasingly threatened.
He urged the ARCN leadership to intervene urgently.
