September 2016 - Page 2 of 3

Picture of the entrance to IITA under construction in 1968.

IITA at 50

IITA celebrate its 50th year of founding in 2017. As IITA starts to celebrate its golden jubilee, we take a “then and now” look at Headquarters, Ibadan.

Picture of Dr. Abberton addressing scientists, Agripreneurs and staff in Abuja.

IITA Deputy Director lauds Abuja station as site of transformation

Michael Abberton, IITA Deputy Director, West Africa Hub, made his first familiarization visit to the IITA Abuja Station on 7 September, during which he praised the projects at the station and said the station holds much potential for transformation and growth.

Picture of IITA’s Edidah Ampaire highlight’s the role of women in climate change adaptation issues.

Researchers make a case to Uganda parliamentarians on gender-responsive policies on climate change and food security

A team of researchers from IITA and their partners therefore engaged parliamentarians, permanent secretaries, commissioners, and civil society organizations in a discussion on the interaction between gender, climate change, and food security.

Celebrating achievements in the IITA Year of Open Access

The Institute has made significant progress towards ensuring compliance to the decision by management to adopt Open Access, thereby making available its work to the public for free. As a direct outcome of implementing Open Access, a new institutional repository was introduced called CG Space.

Picture of Bruce Walsh from the University of Arizona: I have a real passion for teaching students in Africa.

IITA builds capacity of NARS to conduct quantitative genetics and advanced plant breeding

The capacity of thirty-three plant breeders from the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of eight African countries has been upgraded to competently take on the demands of advanced plant breeding using the latest technologies.

Picture of Sholola explaining to participants the training objectives, stressing the importance of IITA’s zero tolerance policy for fraud.

IITA trains staff on financial planning, management, and reporting in Ibadan

Selected budget handlers and finance controllers across IITA hubs in Africa converged in Ibadan for a 3-day workshop from 29 to 31 August, to enhance their knowledge on acceptable modes of using and managing the financial resources of the Institute.

Picture of staff of the SA Hub during team building exercise

IITA Southern Africa Hub holds retreat, highlights unity in R4D

More than 70 staff from Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique―country stations comprising the IITA Southern Africa Hub―converged on the picturesque seaside town of Nacala in Nampula Province, Mozambique for the Hub’s annual retreat, which was held from 22 to 26 August at the Thamole Lodge and Resort.

Picture of Representatives of IYA defending the Fished Up app at the Hackathon

Abuja Agripreneurs’ app thrills organizers of Agrihack 2016; gets $5,000

A community-based fish farmers’ web application developed by the Abuja IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) was judged the best during the semifinals of the Fish Farming Agrihack West Africa 2016 competition.

New initiative on nutrition, IFNA, launched

At a side event co-hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), a new framework tagged “Initiative for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa (IFNA)” was launched.

IYA-Taiyo Industry Africa joint project lauded at TICAD VI

During the recently concluded 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), the joint collaboration between the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) and Taiyo Industry Africa (TIA) received commendation from various Government officials from Japan and African countries, international organizations, NGOs, and private sector companies who visited their exhibition booth.