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ARCN Executive Secretary tasks staff to utilise Veterinary Clinic, Fish Pond, Stores Complex
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu has tasked staff of the agency to maximally utilise the newly commissioned Veterinary Clinic, Fish Pond and Stores Complex.
In his address at the commissioning ceremony of the facilities in Abuja on Thursday, Sharubutu eulogised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for the immense support that led to the construction of the projects.
He said, the projects which started in 2023 serve as a testament to visionary leadership of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Sabi Abdullahi.
He said: “These projects, which commenced in December 2023, stand today as a testament to the visionary leadership and unwavering support provided by the Ministry.
Without this steadfast commitment, we would not have achieved such significant milestones in record time.
“You may recall that in November 2022, the Honourable Minister commissioned the Distinguished Senator Abdullahi Adamu Communication Centre, housing ARCN TV, Radio, Library, and Museum.
“I am delighted to report that this facility has been put to significant use. For instance, ARCN TV has garnered over 65,000 views, with an audience demographic of 67% male and 33% female, spanning the age range of 18 to 65+ years across 42 countries.
“The total watch time exceeds 5,000 hours, with notable viewership from all 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT, as well as international audiences from the US, UK, India, and Kenya.
“However, we continue to face challenges. The TV remains in digital-only mode, as we are yet to obtain a terrestrial license for the Radio.
“On the brighter side, our Library boasts over 600 digital books, with more than 350 active readers. Efforts are underway to interlink all e-libraries within the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs), creating a robust reading and research experience for staff and scholars across the National Agricultural Research System.
“The projects we commission today were conceived to strategically align the Council with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, promote food security, enhance the visibility of our agricultural research system, and strengthen collaboration with international research partners.
“These initiatives are in line with the ARCN’s mandate to manage, supervise, and coordinate agricultural research, training, and extension across NARIs and FCAs in Nigeria.”
