During the Collaborative Engagement of the Directors General of CGIAR Centers based in Africa, as part of a collective commitment to advancing the One CGIAR mission for the benefit of Africa, IITA Youth in Agribusiness (IYA) had the privilege of hosting Dr. Simeon Ehui, the new Director General of IITA and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa; and Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, the Director General of Africa Rice and Regional Director for West and Central Africa, at the IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria.
During the visit, IYA showcased its ongoing initiatives and highlighted the impacts of the projects and how they have transformed the lives of beneficiaries. The Head of IYA, Ms. Adetola Adenmosun and her team engaged the DGs in a discussion on the strong partnerships IYA has developed over the years and the invaluable lessons gained along the way. These conversations were framed within the context of IYA’s aspirations, specifically the expansion of its operational footprint and the amplification of its influence to include additional African nations and CGIAR Centres.
In his remarks, Dr. Manneh, said “This is an effort in the right direction and marked by impressive achievements. I hope it can serve as a model for replication throughout Africa.”
Dr. Ehui expressed his willingness to engage in substantive discussions about the mechanisms to scale up IYA’s ongoing initiatives and forge deeper alliances for a more significant impact across Africa.
