In a significant stride toward bolstering agricultural transformation across Africa, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have strengthened their partnership. This commitment was solidified during a high-level visit by AfDB representatives to IITA’s headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The AfDB delegation, led by Dr. Abdul Kamara, Director General for Nigeria, and Dr. Chukwuma Ezedinma, Chief Agro-Industry Officer, met with IITA’s Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr. Simeon Ehui, to discuss critical challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and poverty reduction.

Welcoming the team, Dr. Ehui commended Dr. Kamara’s leadership, saying, “Beyond our professional relationship, I am proud of the pivotal role Dr. Kamara is playing in driving our collective vision for a food-secure Africa.”

The discussions explored ways to align research outputs with practical innovations. IITA’s achievements in areas like cassava and maize research, food safety technologies like Aflasafe, and youth engagement through the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative were highlighted.

Dr. Kamara emphasized the importance of translating research findings into actionable, scalable solutions that address pressing agricultural challenges. He called for innovative strategies to tackle gender inequality and promote climate resilience in agriculture while proposing forward-looking initiatives such as TAAT 3. “It’s not just about funding; it’s about ensuring impactful outcomes,” he noted.

Dr. Ezedinma lauded IITA’s advancements and stressed the importance of leveraging frameworks like the State Project Implementation Units (SPIUs) and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) to inform future programs. He advocated for a structured approach to expand agricultural innovations sustainably.

During the visit, the delegation toured IITA’s facilities, gaining firsthand insights into cutting-edge solutions for soil health, climate-smart practices, food safety, and seed systems. These technologies aim to transform African agriculture and strengthen food systems.

Youth engagement was also a focal point of the discussions. Dr. Kamara applauded IITA’s initiatives to empower young people in agriculture and stressed the need for business-friendly loan rates and entrepreneurial ecosystems to enhance agricultural value chains.

Dr. Ehui underscored the critical role of collaboration with governments and policymakers to ensure widespread adoption of these innovations. “Scaling impactful technologies requires strong partnerships with state actors and stakeholders who can drive change where it matters most,” he stated.

The visit reaffirmed AfDB’s unwavering commitment to working closely with IITA to bridge gaps in agricultural development, foster innovation, and create sustainable food systems for Africa. “Together, we can catalyze transformative changes that will uplift millions across the continent,” Dr. Kamara concluded.

This reinforced partnership signals a brighter future for agriculture in Africa, promising solutions that are innovative, inclusive, and impactful.