Six decades of partnership driving agricultural progress
3 June 2026
For nearly six decades, IITA and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs have partnered to advance agricultural development, strengthen food systems, and improve livelihoods across Africa. This enduring partnership is anchored in the Host Country Agreement signed in July 1967, which established the legal and diplomatic framework that enables IITA-CGIAR to operate in Nigeria.
As the government institution responsible for managing the diplomatic privileges and immunities granted to IITA under the agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays an important role in supporting the institute’s research and development mission. Within IITA, the Protocol and External Liaison Unit coordinates these arrangements, ensuring the framework continues to support the institute’s operations and partnerships across the continent.
To reinforce this long-standing relationship, His Excellency Ambassador Wahab Akande, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria, visited IITA headquarters from 15 to 17 May alongside Senior Counsellor Abimbola Ojo. The visit formed part of the Ministry’s oversight responsibilities under the Host Country Agreement and provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration in support of agricultural development and food security.
The engagement began with a virtual meeting with IITA Director General, Simeon Ehui, followed by discussions with the institute’s management team. During the meeting, Deputy Director General for Partnerships for Delivery and Scaling, Tahirou Abdoulaye, expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s continued support and highlighted IITA’s impact across its headquarters, hubs, and research stations. He pointed to the institute’s work in strengthening cassava and yam seed systems across Africa and referenced its recent recognition through the Africa Food Prize for contributions to agricultural innovation and food systems transformation.
Ambassador Akande commended IITA’s achievements, describing the institute as a leading center of research excellence whose work continues to contribute significantly to agricultural development across the continent. He noted that IITA’s efforts align closely with Nigeria’s priorities of improving food security, supporting farmers, reducing poverty, and promoting sustainable development. He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the institute and its development focused initiatives.
During the visit, the delegation toured several of IITA’s research facilities and innovation platforms, including the Germplasm Health, Virology and Diagnostics Laboratory, Food Nutrition and Science Laboratory, Genetic Resources Center, Youth in Agribusiness Office, Cassava Seed System Unit, Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, Cassava Breeding, Processing and Utilization Unit, Business Incubation Platform, Aflasafe Facility, Supply Chain Unit, and Facilities Management Unit.
Reflecting on the visit, Ambassador Akande described the experience as insightful and inspiring, noting that the breadth of innovations and infrastructure across IITA demonstrates the institute’s far reaching impact and its vision for Africa’s agricultural future.
Deputy Director General for Corporate Services, Hilde Koper, and Director of Strategic Planning and Chief of Staff, Ibnou Dieng, thanked the delegation for the visit and expressed confidence that the partnership between IITA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to grow, creating new opportunities to advance agricultural transformation and food security across Africa.
Contributed by Ochuwa Favour Daramola
