By Gabriel Ameh
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, has commenced oversight visits to federal colleges and research institutes under the council’s supervision, assuring staff of President Bola Tinubu’s support for the sector.
This was contained in a statement Signed
by Khadijat O. Ameen Head, Public Relations Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria on 22nd September 2025
Speaking on Monday, during a visit to the National Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) in Lagos, Dr. Dabban expressed satisfaction with the institute’s teamwork and commitment, describing them as the driving force behind its successes. He urged staff to remain dedicated and supportive of the institute’s leadership.
Highlighting progress since assuming office, he disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Head of Service to address staff welfare and conditions of service. He further noted that the council was engaging with the Nigerian Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to improve funding access for research and staff development.
“This is a new dawn, and we will change the narrative. We want to see associate professors within the research system, and we need your support to achieve these reforms,” Dr. Dabban stated.
The Executive Director of NIOMR, Prof. Abiodun Sule, outlined the institute’s contributions to research and food security, emphasizing its role in sustainable marine resource management, poverty reduction, and environmental conservation since its establishment in 1975.
Prof. Sule added that NIOMR’s mandate covers genetic improvement of marine and brackish water species, post-harvest management, marine safety training, and fisheries development, pledging full support to the ARCN leadership.
Also speaking, Dr. Ademola Yakub, Director of Biological Oceanography at NIOMR, revealed that the institute has 627 staff members—more than half of whom are female researchers. He noted ongoing projects including fish feed production at Badore, Lagos, as well as annexes housing laboratories and field stations.
In a similar development, Dr. Dabban also visited the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT), Lagos, where he commended management for the college’s progress and pledged the council’s continued support.
He assured staff and students that issues relating to TETFUND and NADF interventions were being addressed, noting that a Memorandum of Understanding with TETFUND would soon be finalized to improve funding for lecturers and infrastructure.
The Provost of FCFMT, Dr. Paul Chuks Onuoha, highlighted the college’s milestones, including the accreditation of its Marine Engineering programme and eight additional Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes. He revealed that student enrolment had grown from 500 to 2,000, necessitating expansion in accommodation and infrastructure.
According to him, recent developments include the construction of an 800-bed hostel, new laboratories, workshops, and an engineering school complex. He also disclosed that the college now runs on 24/7 solar power, independent of the national grid.
Dr. Onuoha pledged the institution’s continued collaboration with ARCN to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural and marine research ecosystem.
