Capability Building, Others Top Agenda As FG Moves To Reform ARCN

The federal government has commenced a process to reposition the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), its affiliated institutes and colleges in a move to ensure better performance to drive impactful research and development.

The move is also in line with the council Amendment Act  and President Tinubu’s administration’s desire to transform agriculture and food security.

The amendment Act made provisions for efficient management of research and training, including the establishment of spinoff companies to commercialise research products and innovations generated by research institutions in Nigeria.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari while addressing the council’s executive officers and directors at the ARCN. reform workshop yesterday in Abuja, stressed that research and training plays a crucial role to drive agricultural transformation.

The minister who was represented by the minister of state for agriculture and food security, Sabi Abdullahi noted that the ministry has prioritised repositioning the national agricultural research system for greater productivity, while citing the implementation of the ARCN Act as a critical step towards efficient management of research and training activities.

The minister also directed federal colleges to prioritise vocational and skill acquisition in their training programmes, with a focus on practical learning to equip beneficiaries with working knowledge of agricultural businesses.

Kyari further called for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure the realisation of the directive.

Addressing the utilisation of available land within agricultural research and training institutions for agricultural production, the minister reiterated the importance of promoting food production in the country and urged all stakeholders to support the initiative.

In response, the executive-secretary of ARCN, Prof Garba Sharabutu who emphasised the importance of the workshop, stated that the council will use the meeting to deliberate on  the new performance-based evaluation system, among others as well as issues that have to do with the restructuring of the council.

The ES also disclosed that the council is currently working with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)  to draw its own curriculum to meet with the agricultural transformation of the administration.