News Overview

In partnership with the Bioconductor community, IITA–CGIAR hosted an intensive, week-long Bioconductor workshop in Nairobi. The workshop aimed to enhance bioinformatics expertise across Africa, and equipped participants with practical skills in genomic data analysis, with a special focus on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. The workshop commenced with a two-day introduction to R and Bioconductor, focusing on data handling, visualization, and reproducible research

As part of continued efforts to foster greater synergy with national partners in Africa, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, held high-level meetings with key stakeholders in the Republic of Benin to strengthen partnerships and align agricultural innovations with national development priorities. Accompanied by a delegation, Dr Ehui met with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Gaston

IITA Mozambique signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed to strengthen existing partnership with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science, Rovuma University, recently. With the MoU, the two institutions are poised to promote knowledge and develop projects that can benefit the agriculture sector and economy in Mozambique. One of the strategic areas the MoU is focusing on includes capacity building

In the blistering heat that greets each morning in most communities in Northern Nigeria, Zainab Aliyu, a palm oil seller, dares the suffocating heat in her Ribadu Kauta Hore community in Adamawa State to make a living for herself and contribute to her husband’s meager income. With her baby strapped to her back every morning, she traverses the length and

Post-harvest technology plays a vital role in preserving crop quality, reducing losses, and enhancing the efficiency of agricultural value chains. For cassava, a key staple in tropical regions, effective post-harvest management is essential to transform the perishable root into safe, market-ready products. This reduces spoilage and improves food safety, farmer incomes, and sustainable development. To strengthen coordination and efficiency within

The Consul-General of India to Nigeria, Chandramouli Kumar Kern, visited IITA–CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan from 31 May to 1 June, aiming to strengthen India-Africa collaboration in agricultural research and innovation. Lava Kumar, the IITA Head of Virology and Germplasm Health, moderated the meeting. In his welcome remarks, the IITA Deputy Director General for Research for Development (DDG-R4D), Bernard Vanlauwe, introduced Kern to IITA’s mission, strategy,

From 28 to 31 May, IITA had the honor of hosting the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Legesse Geremew Haile, accompanied by his spouse and the Minister Counsellor, Misgna Teklu Abrha. Their visit was to deepen their understanding of IITA’s research activities and explore opportunities for collaboration between Ethiopia and IITA. A courtesy meeting with senior management was held to

As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering impactful partnerships with tertiary institutions, IITA–CGIAR is expanding its collaborative reach. On 28 May, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery (DDG-P4D), Dr Kenton Dashiell, and his delegation visited Kola-Daisi University (KDU), Ibadan, Oyo State. The visit focused on offering strategic agricultural advisory services to support the development of 500 hectares of underutilized university-owned land. Convened