IITA, UI Partner On Food, Environmental Challenges

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA and the University of Ibadan have outlined areas of possible collaboration to help stem Africa’s food and environmental challenges.

The two institutions have agreed to explore and improve Africa’s fortunes on areas which include  establishment of a biotechnology platform, soil health Geographical Information Science, fund raising for research, food, nutrition and capacity building.

According to the Director General of IITA, Dr  Nteranya Sanging a during a courtesy  visit to the  UI, “If we collaborate on these areas, we will be able to help tackle the food and environmental challenges facing Africa”.

He revealed that IITA which was established in 1967 remains a leader in crop improvement and the fight against biological threats and environmental sustainability in Africa.

He disclosed that improved crop varieties from IITA have accelerated productively in several African countries with Cameroon doubling cassava yields and Nigeria becoming the world’s top producer of the root crop.

He noted that human capacity was a major issue that needed to be tackled for Africa to maintain sustainable development and lamented the declining number of scientists in several African countries whether in biotechnology or crop breeding, a trend which he said must not be allowed to continue.

Sanginga also called for investment in research infractructure particularly in West and Central African regions that are rich in resources, pointing out that the collaboration with the university of Ibadan would be of immense benefit to Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

In his remark, the Vice Chancellor of UI, Prof Isaac Adewole noted that partnership was the top agenda of the university, stressing that joint efforts with IITA would not only improve the welfare, nutrition, health and incomes of Nigerians but would also contribute to the food security of Africa.

According to him, Africa will be truly independent only when it is food secure adding  that the university was well placed to work with IITA.

“I believe that IITA is there for us, just as the university college Hospital is for the college of Medicine, there must be a bridge between us and IITA and we are ready to work with you” he said.

With its revised strategy, IITA explained that it intends to focus on increasing research quality, capacity building and partnerships and disclosed that consequently, a directorate for capacity building and partnership has been created under the leadership of Dr. Kenton Dashiell to champion and achieve that goal.

Both institutions agreed in principle to commit resources that would advance research for the benefit of poor farmers and consumer.