News Overview

To attract, retain, and change the perception of young people about agriculture, the Start Them Early Program (STEP), under the Oyo State Government, organized the 2021 STEP Schools Agri-Competition, the first of its kind, on 29 November. The event encouraged young people to embrace agriculture and develop career paths, including agribusiness. STEP Communication Officer Temiloluwa Adedeji moderated the event. The Agri-competition

A two-day round table of stakeholders in Agriculture Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) within the framework of the activities of the project “Support to Women Entrepreneurship in the Agrofood Sector in Nigeria” (SWEAN) was held from 29 to 30 November at the Embassy of France in Abuja, Nigeria. The project, funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign

The Tanzania Minister of Agriculture, Hon Prof Adolph Mkenda, has praised the efforts and impacts of a five-year program in Northern Tanzania to develop the agriculture sector. The program, funded by the Belgian Development Cooperation, brought together four partners—TRIAS, Iles de Paix (IDP), BOS+, and Rikolto. IITA, through the Africa RISING program, provided technical backstopping through one of the partners. The Hon Minister

As part of efforts to realize the national cassava commercialization strategy, IITA, through the BEST Cassava project, co-organized a starch meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture under the Honorable Minister, Professor Adolf Mkenda. The meeting brought together cassava producers, starch processors, importers, and various institutions in trade and regulatory bodies. The objective of the meeting was to facilitate discussion to

The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) recently organized sensitization training in a correctional facility in Akorede, Ibadan, in Southwest Nigeria. The prison’s Agricultural Service Officer Ibikunle Alonge granted the invitation. Alonge, an experienced extension agent who had previously worked with IITA, works with the Department of Correctional Service (DCS) to train and sensitize farmers. The correctional facility has a community service program

Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister, Hon. Prof Adolph Mkenda, has expressed his appreciation for the scientific endeavors of IITA, which have had a significant impact in finding sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the country’s agriculture sector and assured the Institute of his government’s support. The Minister particularly commended IITA’s work on cassava and banana, which led to the release of new, improved

IITA Director General Dr Nteranya Sanginga was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Aare Afurugbin Ola of the Source (Lead Sower of Wealth and Prosperity of the House Oduduwa) on 11 December in recognition of his outstanding contribution to agriculture, research, and development in Africa. The conferment ceremony at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye, Ojaja II, highlighted

Alice Taylor and Stefan Boessner The global energy system is at the centre of two interlinked challenges. On the one hand, approximately two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from the energy sector. On the other hand, it is also often at the heart of conflicts at an international level, as the current gas supply dispute between the EU