During his extended visit to the IITA headquarters in Ibadan, Special Envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo President, Pacifique Kahasha Birindwa, visited IITA’s Goodwill Ambassador and former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as part of his itinerary.
IITA Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, accompanied the Special Envoy, who explained that his visit was partly to raise awareness and cultivate support for President Felix Tshisekedi’s plans to ensure that agriculture in DRC becomes the primary vehicle of development in DRC.
Chief Obasanjo welcomed the delegation, commending President Tshisekedi’s decision to embrace agriculture. “He has begun very well, but there is need for continuity, and I hope the people of DRC understand that you don’t replace or withdraw a winning horse in a race,” he said. He added that agriculture is the centerpiece of Africa’s economic activities and the beginning of industrialization.
Obasanjo noted that Africa could mobilize its internal and external resources to develop its agribusiness sector. He further highlighted DRC’s abundance of rain and arable land, which exceeds that of all other African countries. “DRC is the only country in Africa with more than one time zone,” he noted.
Birindwa was on an exploratory visit to IITA Nigeria following President Tshisekedi’s government’s decision to transform the country’s agricultural sector using IITA’s Nigerian model. He said DRC had been practicing subsistence agriculture, and it was time to change the status quo. “Based on what IITA did for Nigeria, President Tshisekedi has requested the African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr Akinwunmi Adesina and IITA DG Sanginga to help DRC create and implement a next-generation agricultural project that will not only increase the country’s agricultural production and the entire value chain but also pull the economy into commercialization,” he said.
During an exclusive interview with Radio IITA, Birindwa said his visit to IITA and Nigeria had been nothing short of inspiring and transformative. “Now I can develop a strategic plan for the President’s further action,” he added.
Dr Sanginga expressed his optimism about the project in DRC and said CGIAR and IITA would provide the needed support to help DRC attain its goal.
After the meeting, the Special Envoy and his Assistant Felix Karume Ntwali toured the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library and Museum.
Contributed by Odok, Dajie Blessing
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