The National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin, on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, played host to the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Adamu Abubakar Bandan, during a familiarization visit.The Executive Director of NCAM, Engr. Dr. A. R. Kamal, together with the NCAM management team, warmly welcomed the Executive Secretary and his entourage to the Centre.

The visit was also attended by the Executive Director of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) and some members of staff from both institutes.As part of the visit, the NCAM Executive Director made a presentation highlighting the Centre’s mandate, achievements, and innovations in developing cottage industries to promote small-scale mechanization and rural agro-processing.

The Executive Director of NSPRI also made a presentation on the Institute’s ongoing research efforts and its vital contributions to post-harvest technology and food preservation.The visit featured a guided facility tour, during which Dr. Bandan inspected various workshops, equipment, and research units across the Centre.In his remarks, the Executive Secretary commended NCAM’s management and staff for their dedication and strong representation.

He promised to formally meet with NCAM staff to personally appreciate their support.Dr. Bandan also acknowledged the challenges facing NCAM’s outstations and assured that ARCN would explore ways to address them.He further emphasized the need for synergy between NCAM and NSPRI, encouraging both Centres to collaborate on a ₦2 billion Oil Palm Automated Processing System proposal to be submitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in alignment with the national Food Security agenda.

The visit reinforced inter-agency collaboration and demonstrated ARCN’s commitment to advancing research, innovation, and mechanization for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.