September 2018 - Page 2 of 3

Picture of BASICS Project Director, Hemant Nitturkar (right) with IITA DG Nteranya Sanginga.

NASC lauds BASICS project for active participation at Africa Expo

The Governing Board and the management of National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) have recently expressed appreciation for the active participation of the members of the Building an Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seed System in Nigeria (BASICS) project at the maiden edition of SeedConnect Africa Expo 2018, which was held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 5–6 June.

Picture of Sougrynoma Zainatou Sore, Head of IITA Capacity Development Office, giving a presentation on IITA’s activities from inception to date.

Ivorian delegates visit IITA; acquire knowledge for ENABLE Youth implementation

As a sequel to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IITA and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire to replicate the ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment) Youth program in the country, 10 delegates from the Ivorian government visited IITA Headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria on 27–31 August

Improving cocoa productivity through integrated soil fertility management

Cocoa plantations in West Africa are sometimes not as productive as expected, yielding low income for farmers. To compensate and improve their livelihoods, some farmers have expanded their farms into forests.

Picture of Prof Boga (right) handing over a copy of the EAC policy briefs on aflatoxin control after the launch to IITA’s Victor Manyong, East Africa Hub Director.

EAC launches policy briefs on aflatoxin prevention and control developed with IITA

A set of policy briefs outlining key strategic policy recommendations and actions to prevent and control aflatoxin contamination along food and feed value chains in East Africa, were officially launched at a two-day regional forum in Nairobi, Kenya, 15–16 August.

Picture of Dr Bussie Maziya-Dixon speaking at a recent Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH)

IITA scientist to receive NSN honorary award for work on nutrition

IITA Senior Food and Nutrition Scientist Bussie Maziya-Dixon has been nominated as a recipient for an honorary award from the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN).

Picture of Team Lead from Sterling Bank; Mrs Bukola Awosanya addressing the participants at the workshop

Sterling Bank explores partnership with IITA on agribusiness financing

A commercial bank in Nigeria, Sterling Bank Plc is exploring areas of partnership with IITA on an agribusiness financing loan scheme for “agripreneurs” who have been trained and mentored by the Institute.

Picture of Stump of infected banana tree. Source: Viljoen, 2018.

FAO and partners combat Banana Fusarium Disease

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) met with partners at the ProMusa International Banana Symposium that took place at the International Horticulture Congress in Istanbul.

Picture of staff members enjoying their lunch at the IITA staff canteen

What’s for lunch?

The staff lunch has been a staple at IITA, Ibadan, for the longest time.

Picture of NM-AIST delegation visiting the lab facilities.

Former VP and new VC of NM-AIST visit IITA Arusha

A former Vice President of Tanzania and the Chancellor of the Nelson Mandela Africa Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Honorable Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal and incoming Vice Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Luoga, visited IITA research facilities including the lab and field at the university.