Strengthening collaboration between IITA and NM-AIST
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) and IITA have renewed their partnership after the heads of the two institutions signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6 May 2019 that spells out the terms of the collaboration.
DG Nteranya Sanginga and NM-AIST Vice Chancellor Prof Emmanuel Luoga after signing and exchanging an MoU to continue collaboration.
In the MoU, which is an update of a previous one signed in 2014, NM-AIST will continue to host IITA’s banana breeding program, which is breeding improved, high yielding varieties of the East Africa highland cooking banana and provide office space for the staff and laboratories and fields for banana trials. IITA refurbished a tissue culture laboratory and a screenhouse at the university and installed an irrigation system on the university land.
On its part, IITA will continue to support in capacity building efforts, which include supervision of MSc and PhD students and continue to maintain the facilities the university has generously provided.
While making a courtesy call to the VC, Prof Emmanuel Luoga, before the official signing ceremony, Chair of the IITA Board, Dr Amos NamangaNgogi thanked him for the collaboration with IITA through the years. He said NM-AIST had an important role to play in building the capacity of scientists in Africa to tackle the many challenges facing the continent. He noted capacity building was also an important agenda for IITA as it strived to support African countries in developing their agriculture sector to address hunger and poverty and degraded lands.
IITA Board of Trustees and senior management touring IITA research facilities and listening to the staff explaining their work.
“NM-AIST is doing a very good job and making a very important contribution to the future of Africa though building the capacity of future scientists and IITA is happy to continue its partnership. Thank you for all the good collaboration that IITA has received,” he said.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by all Board members, Senior IITA management both at the headquarters and the hubs, senior management staff at the university, and the staff of IITA at the university. Also in attendance was Dr Geoffrey Mkamila, the Director General of the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI).
