IITA Director General reinforces strategic partnerships to advance agricultural transformation in Nigeria

10 October 2025

The IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, led a high-level mission to Abuja to deepen collaborations with government institutions, development partners, and diplomatic missions towards advancing agricultural transformation and food security in Nigeria.

During the mission, Dr Ehui held a series of meetings with key ministries and partners, emphasizing the importance of scaling agricultural technologies, fostering private sector engagement, and mobilizing resources to achieve sustainable impact.

At the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Ehui met with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the Minister of State, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, to discuss alignment of IITA-CGIAR’s agricultural research outcomes with national priorities for economic growth and food security. “We have had several interactions highlighting IITA-CGIAR’s major milestones as a key player in agriculture in Nigeria,” said Dr Ehui. “This visit is a follow-up to drive these discussions for impact. I want IITA-CGIAR’s role to be more visible, and there is a need to scale our existing technologies, so they reach farmers in rural areas. We want to be seen as solution providers in areas where there is a lack of comparative advantage.”

During discussions at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Ehui reiterated IITA-CGIAR’s commitment to working with partners that play critical roles in the agri-food system, stressing the importance of moving technologies from the laboratory to farmers at scale, with stronger private sector participation. “In the last two years as DG, I have focused on strengthening partnerships to leverage our research and impact. Since 1967, IITA-CGIAR has been contributing to food systems and agricultural livelihoods across Africa, with high-yielding, pest- and disease-resistant varieties of crops such as cassava, yam, and cowpea,” he said, adding that government support remains vital for driving research impact and transforming food systems.

In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Finance and the Economy, Sanyade Okoli who represented the Minister of Finance and coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to agriculture as a national priority, targeting significant GDP growth, reduced inflation, and high-quality job creation.

At the World Bank, Dr Ehui met with Country Director, Mathew Verghis, to discuss ongoing and future collaborations in agriculture. “We’ve been having a lot of discussions on agriculture,” said Verghis. “Now is a very good time to take those conversations forward for impact.” Both teams agreed on the need to accelerate joint efforts to support technology adoption, policy implementation, and value chain development.

Dr Ehui also met with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, where discussions centered on strengthening agribusiness, livestock systems, and industrial linkages to drive inclusive agricultural growth.

In another engagement, Dr Ehui and the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nigeria, Yuzurio Susumu, explored new partnership pathways, including youth engagement, capacity building for extension services, and market system development. Discussions also touched on collaboration through TICAD 9 and the possibility of research and science exchange programs to strengthen Nigeria–Japan agricultural cooperation.

Diplomatic engagements also featured meetings with H.E. Alfredo Miranda (Ambassador of Mexico), H.E. Suzuki Hideo (Ambassador of Japan), and Vartika Rawat (Chargé d’Affaires, Indian High Commission), all of whom expressed readiness to work with IITA and CGIAR in supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.

“These meetings reaffirmed the collective will of government, diplomatic missions, and development partners to support innovation, research, and investments in agriculture as key drivers of food and nutrition security,” said Dr Ehui.

“At IITA and CGIAR, we remain committed to building strong partnerships that will transform agriculture for improved livelihoods and sustainable food systems across Africa.”

Contributed by ’Timilehin Osunde