IITA News

Peas ‘n’ Chips: Creating food security with African yam bean

The African yam bean (AYB), Sphenostylis stenocarpa, produces beans in pods above-ground and tubers beneath. This climate-resilient tuberous legume replenishes the soil through nitrogen fixation and is highly nutritious, with the protein-rich beans and the tuber as an energy source. AYB has a high amino-acid profile and alleviated malnourishment during the Nigerian civil war in…

IITA’s circular bioeconomy innovations contributing to food security and natural resource management in sub-Saharan Africa

Innovations on the circular bioeconomy from IITA have contributed positively to increasing crop productivity, food security, resource use efficiency, job creation, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This is according to a study by the CGIAR-IITA research team that assessed the contributions of IITA’s circular bioeconomy innovations to economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The findings…

Baale of Araromi confers chieftaincy title on IITA Director General

The Baale of Araromi Idi-Ose, Chief Rahman Adebayo Oniduhun, has conferred a traditional chieftaincy title on IITA’s Director General, Nteranya Sanginga. This followed a visit to the IITA headquarters of a delegation of 10 chiefs from the Institute’s host community, Idi-Ose land, led by the new Baale on 15 April. The DG received the delegates with the Deputy Director General, Corporate Services, Hilde Koper; Head Security and Safety, David Oluwadare; Manager for Resource Protocol, Toyin Oke; and members of IITA’s Communication team. DG Sanginga welcomed the guests, giving a brief overview of IITA’s location, forest, lake, workforce, and the Institute’s presence…

IITA-Tanzania wins award for promoting workplace gender equality

IITA-Tanzania was among the recipients of this year’s Rising Woman Award to recognize the Institute’s efforts to support women leaders. IITA-Tanzania has more women than men in management positions in the Corporate Services, including the Institute’s Director for Eastern Africa, Head of Finance and Administration, and Heads of Human Resources, Procurement, and Communication. Moreover, IITA’s…

IITA, key partner for promoting agriculture as a business for smallholder farmers in DRC

As part of the PICAGL project implementation funded by the World Bank through the Congolese government, IITA hosted an agricultural fair in Bukavu from 8 to 9 April with the theme: “Agriculture as Business, Source of income for smallholders farmers in South Kivu.” The fair’s general objective was to highlight IITA’s research contribution, with the support of its partners, in favor of smallholder farmers in South Kivu. These include producing healthy varieties with high yields and tolerance to diseases in collaboration with the National Institution for…

Food security in maize production: Managing its implications and sustainability

Maize (Zea mays) is a staple food in many parts of the world, with the total production surpassing wheat or rice. Maize is usually consumed green but can also be eaten as masa, a maize dough from ground corn, soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution to remove aflatoxin, which Latin Americans consume. The crop is also used as the main ingredient to produce corn…

Africa needs empowered youth to keep pace with its population explosion—Youth champions

With Africa’s population predicted to double by 2050, creating challenges such as high unemployment rates, low income, food insecurity, and persistent poverty, there needs to be a systemic change targeting the continent’s youth, who will make up about 60% of the overall population. IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga highlighted some of the required systemic changes…

Awe Community seeks to strengthen public-private partnership to enhance youth participation in agriculture

IITA has a culture of promoting good relationships. In Oyo State, IITA continues to build on its partnership with the government and people of the State in agriculture and agribusiness activities. Over the years, past and present governors and other groups in the State have collaborated with IITA to boost economic development through agriculture. A…

Ecobank Nigeria and Vanguard newspapers seek collaboration with IITA

In preparation for the upcoming Ecobank Agribusiness Summit on “Digitizing the Agricultural value chain for unlocking productivity, growth and food security”, a six-member delegation from Ecobank Nigeria and Vanguard Media, publishers of Vanguard, paid a visit to IITA to formally introduce the group and seek collaboration opportunities on potential strategic initiatives. The team led by…

Exploring the dynamics of farm and non-farm employment among Nigerian youth

Varying factors often determine youth employment dynamics in different developing countries, ranging from economic conditions to government policies. Understanding these dynamics has continued to attract research interest due to the unabated unemployment crises in the continent, home to 50% of the world’s young population. With Africa’s workforce growing much faster than other regions in the…