EXECUTIVE SECRETARY ARCN CHARGE NIHORT ON TRANSFORMATIVE AGRICULTURE

The Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Dr Abubakar Adamu Dabban has charged research institute to drive transformation through their work.

Dr. Dabban gave the charge when he paid a work visit to the National Horticultural Research Institute(NIHORT) Thursday 25th September, 2025 in Ibadan.

The ES said the charge from the Minister is for NARIS and FCAs to renew their focus and prioritize all aspects of production to meet national demands, this he said is important and all Federal College of Agriculture and National Agricultural Research institutes must key in.

He called for NARIs and FCAs to reinvigorates linkages to ensure food security is met through their mandate. The ES charge NIHORT to remain on track as work are going on to get funding for research works.

” We are the engine room and we shall get seen. Meeting is ongoing to sign and memorandum of understanding with TETFUND and this visit is to ensure that we know where the institute is lagging behind and when the fund comes, we use it for those areas”.

On scheme of service, talks are on with the head of service for new scheme of service for the institutes and colleges.he said the council is taking deliberate measures to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation framework for its subsector.

“We are in the process of updating the guidelines for the management of NARIS and FCAs to ensure guidelines reflect current realities, promote best practices and enhance seamless coordination across our institutions,” he said.

On his part, Prof Muhammed Lawal Atanda, Executive Director, National Horticultural Research Institute briefs the house on the institutional progress achieved in horticultural crops research. He said the visit of the ES is a plus for NIHORT.

Prof Atanda called for the need to look into the funding pattern of the institute as the delay experienced drags research work backwards.

He called for more motivation from the mother body, ARCN, for more results to be achieved and applaud the staff for their cooperation.