IITA, ABUAD Sign MoU On Agric Dev

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Afe
Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti have signed Memorandum of Understanding on fresh
efforts to unlock the potential of agriculture and natural resources in Africa.

A statement from the Institute obtained by our correspondent
indicated that both institutions had a common interest in improving the
nutrition and income of the rural and urban poor.

The MoU would provide a “bridge” to link the two
institutions and foster cooperation to complement each other’s research
efforts, it said.

The Director General of IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanging said that
“we are very excited in signing this MoU and we are also confident that
together we can work to tackle the challenges of hunger and poverty”.

He said the MoU would help in building the critical human
capital to address the present and future challenges of not only agriculture
but also development.

He explained that agriculture was faced with several
constraints like climate change, emerging pests and diseases. He said these
problems could be tackled if human capacity building was developed to provide
the solutions.

According to the statement, under IITA’s revised strategy
research, partnerships and capacity building were key drivers for IITA’s
success as the institute aims to lift 20 million people out of poverty and free
25 million hectres of degraded land in the next decade.

IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships and capacity  Building, Dr Kenton Dashiell, said this was
one of the ways of meaningfully engaging the youths and giving them the tools
to be productive.

Specific areas of interest for the two institutions listed
in the MoU are collaboration in research and development on topics of mutual
interest, development of joint research and development project proposals for
submission to prospective donors for funding.

Others, according to Dr Dashiell, are organization of joint
research activities, conferences and workshops and placement and exchange of
students with other research materials publications among other interests.

The vice chancellor of ABUAD, Prof Sidi Osho, explained that
the MoU which was of great interest to the university would also help in
increasing food production and food security.

According to her, the MoU would further confer tremendous
benefits on the institution in terms of international linkages, exchange
programmes and administrative capacities among others.