Republic of Benin and IITA deepen strategic partnership on youth-centered agricultural transformation

4 February 2026

President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency Patrice Guillaume Talon, has articulated a clear national vision to accelerate agricultural transformation by placing young people at the center, linking education, skills development, and agribusiness opportunities to prepare the next generation for productive careers in agriculture.  

This priority formed the basis of a high-level engagement between President Talon and the IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, as both parties explored new frontiers for strengthening the long-standing strategic partnership between IITA-CGIAR and the Government of Benin. 

The discussions focused on aligning IITA’s research and development agenda with Benin’s national agricultural transformation priorities, with particular emphasis on youth engagement, agricultural education, capacity development, and agribusiness development. 

As part of the Government’s broader strategy to prepare young people for careers in agriculture and agribusiness, both parties discussed opportunities to integrate agricultural education into the high school curriculum. President Talon highlighted the importance of introducing students to agriculture early, equipping them with practical skills, and nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset as a pathway to job creation and economic growth. 

Existing Government–IITA collaborations in Benin such as the ENABLE-Youth initiative under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program has been recognized a strong foundation on which to build a more comprehensive national system for youth-centered agricultural education and agribusiness development. 

Dr Ehui reaffirmed IITA’s commitment to supporting the Government of Benin’s vision through technical backstopping, curriculum development, teacher and trainer capacity building, and the provision of research-based innovations and learning tools. 

“Equipping young people with the right foundation to see agriculture as a viable and profitable business is essential for transforming food systems and creating jobs in Africa,” he said. “IITA is ready to work with the Government of Benin to design and implement a robust agricultural education framework that prepares the next generation of agripreneurs.” 

The meeting also reviewed broader areas of collaboration, including research alignment with national priorities, innovation scaling, capacity development, and strengthening national agricultural systems to support productivity, resilience, and inclusive growth. 

In a related engagement during the mission to Benin, Dr Ehui also met with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Gaston Dossouhoui, alongside a delegation from IITA headquarters in Ibadan and the IITA Resident Representative in Benin, Dr Manu Tamo. The meeting, held in a spirit of open dialogue, trust, and strong institutional partnership, underscored the depth of collaboration between both parties. This reaffirmed shared commitment geared towards strengthening the long-standing cooperation in support of agricultural research, scientific education, youth development, and sustainable agriculture, with IITA reiterating its readiness to continue supporting Benin’s national priorities in line with existing agreements. 

IITA-CGIAR has partnered with the Government of Benin for nearly 40 years, contributing to agricultural research, technology dissemination, capacity building, and policy support. This renewed engagement signals a shift toward a more integrated, systems-level partnership, linking research, education, youth development, and agribusiness to accelerate Benin’s agricultural transformation. 

The deepened collaboration reflects a shared commitment to empowering young people, strengthening institutions, and ensuring sustainable agricultural development for Benin and the wider region. 

Contributed by ’Timilehin Osunde