October 2016 - Page 3 of 4

Picture of Dr Morufat Balogun addressing participants at the aeroponics facility at NRCRI.

YIIFSWA/NRCRI train commercial seed producers on high ratio propagation technology for quality yam seed production

The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project in collaboration with the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) trained 18 technicians from 11 commercial seed companies on the operationalization of the Aeroponics system (AS) and Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System (TIBS) for high quality pre-basic and basic seed yam production at…

Nigerian engineering body initiates partnership with IITA

A group of engineers under the Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) are seeking to collaborate with IITA in rolling out simple, cost-effective machines that could help make farming easy for African farmers. The team visited Ibadan on 20 September to draw out a plan for promoting a new de-stoner machine for grains, fabricated to…

Picture of IITA delegation being shown the state-of-the-art Mycotoxin Lab by Boahen.

Mozambique hosts IITA top brass for meeting, visit of new facilities

Members of the IITA R4D/P4D Directorate were at the new IITA-Mozambique office in Nampula for a three-day meeting and station visit, which was held 18–21 September. The delegation was led by Ylva Hillbur, DDG-R4D, and Kenton Dashiell, DDG-P4D, and comprised the regional directors, unit heads, and other members of the R4D directorate. At the IITA-Mozambique…

Picture of Abigael of GRC leading the hands-on training session.

IITA’s Genetic Resources Center trains partners

Two training sessions aimed to upgrade the capacity of national agricultural research systems (NARS), Genebank technicians, students, and lecturers to do laboratory experiments have been concluded by IITA’s Genetic Resources Center in collaboration with the Capacity Development Office in Ibadan.

Picture of participants at the high table

aflasafe KE01TM launched in Kenya; private sector asked to invest in the technology

Good news for maize farmers in Kenya and indeed Africa! The biocontrol product aflasafe KE01™, an innovative, safe, and effective technology for controlling aflatoxin contamination, was launched on 4 October at a ceremony at the Kenyan Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO). aflasafe KE01TM has proven effective in reducing aflatoxin contamination by 70–80% in trials…

Picture of DG Nteranya Sanginga and the Agripreneurs welcoming AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina to IITA’s Abuja Station.

IITA Nigeria (Abuja) hosts AfDB President

To see how IITA is assisting the Nigerian youth engaged in the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) scheme to generate novel businesses from agriculture, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and former Principal Economist at IITA, Akinwumi Adesina, paid his first official visit as President of the Bank to IITA’s Station in Abuja on…

Picture of Gbassey Tarawali, Head of the Abuja Station, welcoming the AfDB delegation and guests

Welcome to Abuja!

Gbassey Tarawali, Head of station and leader of an ongoing IITA-led AfDB-funded project ATASP 1 (Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support program) welcomed the dignitaries.

The story from the perspective of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs

All over developing nations, stories continue to spring up almost on a daily basis relating to how and why the majority of their energetic youth remain unemployed and without sustainable sources of income.

Picture of Director of Agriculture Department Chiji Ojukwu

AfDB delegates respond to the youth

Speaking at the event, Chiji Ojukwu said the Feed Africa strategy of the Bank, under which the flagship of ENABLE youth is domiciled, will support young people in Nigeria and 31 other African countries.

Picture of AfDB President Akinwunmi Adesina.

Africa’s future is bright because of IYA – Adesina

Adesina expressed optimism that Africa will indeed soon begin to feed itself because of creative entrepreneurs like the IYA. According to him, the drive with which the youth are fashioning business ideas from the sector makes him see a new Africa. The President recognized the visionary leadership of DG Sanginga and noted that the progress…