IITA at 50 Archives

Picture of Dr Chikoye addressing SARAH staff during the IITA@50 cocktail celebration.

Southern Africa Region celebrates IITA’s Golden Jubilee

As a complementary event to the SA Hub retreat, regional staff also celebrated IITA’s 50th founding anniversary with a cocktail on 21 August at the David Livingstone Safari Lodge, fronting the scenic Zambezi River.

Picture of Chris Okafor, OiC, IITA in Kalambo accepting an award on behalf of IITA at the ceremony.

IITA-Kalambo celebrates IITA’s Golden Jubilee in grand style

IITA-Kalambo Station celebrated the IITA50 Anniversary on 29 June at College Alfajiri premises Bukavu, South Kivu Province, DR Congo with the theme “Youth in Agripreneurship”.

Picture of Dr Tata Hangy explains a poster on CBSD activities to the Minister of Agriculture

IITA50 anniversary celebrations held in Kinshasa, DR Congo

At IITA-Kinshasa, the golden jubilee was celebrated on 18 July at the Pullman Hotel, Kinshasa. In attendance were Kabongo Kazadi, the Minister of Agriculture and other representatives from partner and donor organizations including INERA, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Picture of the guest of honor, Ms Simkanga (in yellow), with hub Director Victor Manyong at the even

Partners in Eastern Africa praise IITA contributions to agric sector at 50th anniversary celebration in the region

IITA’s 50th anniversary celebration moved to its Eastern Africa hub in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with an exciting two-day program on 11-12 July. The first day brought together major partners and all staff from IITA stations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to mark this important milestone.

Picture of scientists bonding through fun activities on the beach.

Hub holds retreat and honors long-serving staff

Day two celebrations were mostly internal and consisted of a hub retreat for all the scientists and senior staff at the hub followed by a dinner during which the long-serving staff at the hub were honored.

Picture of cultural troupe perform to entertain guests at the celebration event

IITA reaffirms commitment to rural transformation as it celebrates its past

IITA’s Director for Eastern Africa has reaffirmed IITA’s commitment to transforming rural areas in Africa while speaking at Day 1 of IITA’s 50th anniversary celebration at the hub.

IITA50-LookingBack: Biafran War almost impeded IITA establishment! [History]

The official legislation that would eventually construct IITA was just being reviewed by representatives of the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations when Nigeria’s first military coup took place on 15 January 1966.

Picture of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Head of State, 1966-1975.

IITA50-LookingBack: The Nigerian Government’s role in the establishment of IITA

IITA’s 1000-hectare land was actually a donation of the Nigerian government, with an annual rental fee of one peppercorn (if demanded).

IITA50-LookingBack: Peppercorn used as IITA annual rental

The 1000-hectare land that the IITA campus rests on was donated by the government to the Ford and Rockefeller foundation.

Picture of media interacting with staff at the Eastern Africa hub.

IITA hosts media as part of 50th anniversary celebration

Recently editors and senior journalists from nearly all the major media houses in Tanzania spent half a day at IITA’s Eastern Africa Hub interacting with the researchers to get a better understanding of the Institute and its activities.