The Institute’s Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr. Simeon Ehui, made this known during a recent visit to Abuja, where he met with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, for a high-level dialogue on strengthening collaboration in sustainable agriculture, youth agripreneurship, and food systems resilience.
Dr. Ehui highlighted IITA’s extensive contributions to Africa’s agricultural development, noting key progress in soil health, seed systems, and plant health. He also showcased the institute’s innovative breakthroughs, including the award-winning Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology, which has boosted crop propagation and productivity across regions.
“For IITA, the biggest challenge remains scaling—deploying proven technologies from the lab to farmers at a much larger scale,” he said. “This is why strategic partnerships are essential. We are committed to working closely with development partners like the United Nations to ensure that Africa becomes food-sufficient.”
In his remarks, Mr. Fall reaffirmed the UN’s support for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda, describing the sector as a critical driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This visit has been high on my list—to not only connect with IITA but to create a bridge between us,” he said. “For a country like Nigeria, agriculture is the biggest channel for economic transformation if the right investments are made.”
The meeting underscored a shared commitment between IITA, CGIAR, and the United Nations to build science-driven, inclusive, and sustainable food systems capable of improving livelihoods and ensuring long-term food security across Africa.
