May 2018 - Page 3 of 4

Picture of IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga addressing Board members, German science and technology stakeholders, and other participants at a special session.

Board of Trustees meeting: IITA to transform into a project based institution

The IITA Board of Trustees (BoT) held its 2018 spring meeting in Bonn, Germany, 23–26 April.

Welcome to incoming board chair, Amos NamangaNgongi

Amos NamangaNgongi is the new IITA Board Chair effective end of April 2018. He takes over from Bruce Coulman of the University of Saskatchewan.

Youth Agripreneurs: Agriculture is a goldmine

For Ibukunoluwa Agbotoba and Zaccheaus Izuwa, agriculture–which used to be seen as a job for the less privileged–is a goldmine that has the capacity to pay their bills and give other youth the opportunity of earning a decent living.

Picture of Tope Adegboyega, IARSAF President, addressing the participants at the annual symposium in IITA

Researchers discuss bridging research and industry for a stable continent at IARSAF 21

More than 200 researchers convened at the IITA Conference Center on 16– 19 April for the 21 st Annual Symposium of the International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows (IARSAF)-IITA to interact, provide an update on their research activities, and exchange innovative ideas.

IARSAF disseminates improved seed varieties to farmers as they mark the end of their 21st annual symposium

Taking the 21st annual symposium further, the International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows (IARSAF)-IITA, went on a field trip on 19 April to Ikenne Local Government Area (LGA) in Ogun State and Akinyele LGA in Oyo State to train, disseminate IITA’s research solutions, and provide technical support to local farmers.

Picture of the IITA-Onne Youth Agripreneur explaining the youth program to the NDDC officials

IITA-Onne reestablishes ties with Niger Delta Development Commission

The IITA station in Onne, Rivers State, has reestablished strategic partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the areas of capacity development, youth empowerment, and service provision.

Picture of Richardson Okechukwu talking about agribusiness to the women and youth

Women and youth sensitized on agribusiness

To commemorate the 2018 International Women’s Day, IITA-Onne delivered a talk on women and youth empowerment in agribusiness at the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Business Women Group (NAWORG) Rivers State Chapter exhibition week tagged “Start small, grow it Big,” held at the Port Harcourt Chambers of Commerce.

Nigeria hosts consultative meeting on alignment of research and delivery to its agriculture agenda

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape attended a country consultation on alignment of research and delivery towards agricultural policies of the Federal Government, 10–12 April, in Abuja.

AgResults holds 5th-year implementer induction; fosters full sustainability in Nigeria

To obtain higher income, quality maize grains, and improve the livelihoods of farmers, the AgResults Aflasafe™ pilot project held its year 5 implementer induction and training workshop on 4–6 April, for both old and new implementers at IITA in Ibadan.

Picture of Small group discussing a picture.

Cassava peels transformation gets boost with Theory of Scaling workshop

Representatives of private sector organizations, government, NGOs, and research institutions met 5–6 April at the IITA Ibadan campus, to discuss ways to enhance opportunities to see High Quality Cassava Peels (HQCP) processed and used at scale in Nigeria.