IITA and Sierra Leone government ally to boost agricultural transformation and food security

10 March 2025

In a landmark move to drive agricultural innovation and food security, IITA–CGIAR and the government of Sierra Leone have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen the partnership. The signing, which took place during the official visit of H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, to IITA’s headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, marks a significant step toward strengthening agricultural research, technology scaling, and capacity development of national research systems in Sierra Leone.

IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui signing the MoU with Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, while IITA Senior Legal Officer Precious Adebanjo looks on.
IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui signing the MoU with Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, while IITA Senior Legal Officer Precious Adebanjo looks on.

The MoU solidifies IITA’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s flagship “Feed Salone” initiative, which aims to enhance food self-sufficiency, boost agricultural productivity, and empower smallholder farmers. Through this agreement, IITA will provide technical expertise, research-driven solutions, and innovative agricultural technologies to improve crop yields, promote climate-smart agriculture, and support youth and women in agribusiness.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, reaffirmed IITA and CGIAR’s dedication to working closely with the Sierra Leone government to implement sustainable agricultural solutions.

“This partnership represents a shared vision for food security and agricultural transformation. IITA is committed to leveraging its extensive research and innovation capacity to support Sierra Leone in achieving its agricultural development goals,” Dr Ehui said.

IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui and Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka with the signed Memorandum of Understanding.
IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui and Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka with the signed Memorandum of Understanding.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, who represented President Bio during the signing, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and stressed the importance of research and innovation in driving Sierra Leone’s agricultural growth.

“For Sierra Leone to achieve food sovereignty, we must embrace science, technology, and strategic partnerships. IITA’s expertise in agricultural research and innovation will be instrumental in transforming our food systems and improving livelihoods,” Dr Kpaka said.

IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui and Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka during a briefing before the MoU signing.
IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui and Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka during a briefing before the MoU signing.

The MoU, which reflects a stronger future for Sierra Leone’s agriculture and food security, covers key areas of collaboration, including technology scaling, capacity building, youth and women’s empowerment, and Support for National Research Systems. These were aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience and promoting sustainable solutions to address challenges in Sierra Leone’s food systems.

This agreement further reinforces IITA’s role as a key partner in Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation, aligning with broader efforts to enhance food security and economic development across the country.

As IITA and the government of Sierra Leone embark on this strengthened collaboration, the focus remains on delivering impactful, research-driven solutions to create a more resilient and productive agricultural sector for the nation.

Contributed by ’Timilehin Osunde