An IITA management delegation paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Kayode Adebowale, on 24 March. The visit consolidated the longstanding partnership between both institutions as the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the University begins his tenure.
In 1967, when IITA was established, Nigeria was in the middle of a civil war. Giving a brief history of the relationship between the two institutions, Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, said: “The University of Ibadan was one of the reasons the Ford and Rockefeller foundations insisted on locating IITA in Nigeria, knowing that the University will provide needed partnership for the Institute.”
Dashiell enumerated the areas of similarity IITA shares with the University, “We work on all types of research in agriculture, transforming agricultural value chains. We are also for partnerships, extension, and delivery, just like the University.”