Esq. Abiola Afolayan, the Bread for the World Director Policy and Research Institute, embarked on a strategic visit to IITA headquarters in Ibadan between 12 and 16 April. The visit was shortly after the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summit and the CGIAR Science Week, where she was introduced to the breadth and impact of IITA’s research activities. The purpose of her visit was to explore potential partnerships to combat global food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in Africa.
During the visit, Kenton Dashiell, the IITA DDG Partnerships for Delivery (DDG-P4D), provided an overview of the institute’s robust agricultural research policy and commitment to scaling innovations to the grassroots level. He emphasized IITA’s holistic approach to transforming tropical agriculture, noting the critical importance of building strong partnerships with national institutions and the private sector to ensure sustainable and impactful scaling of innovations.
“IITA’s role extends beyond research,” Dashiell stated. “We serve as advisors in planning agricultural development programs and shaping sustainable food systems.”
Esq. Afolayan shared insights from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), highlighting over 220 global hunger hotspots. She outlined the complex drivers of food insecurity, including climate shocks, political instability, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and evolving U.S. foreign policy.
Esq. Afolayan further emphasized the need to empower frontline professionals and drew attention to Bread for the World’s advocacy efforts, including recent briefings of African finance ministers at Capitol Hill. These engagements aimed to prioritize hunger eradication in International Development Association (IDA) countries and promote increased investment in agricultural infrastructure.
Central to her message was the Bread for the World’s new policy change agenda, “Nourish our future,” which focuses on global child nutrition. Esq. Afolayan highlighted the vital roles of the IDA, World Bank, and USAID in this initiative. She also urged researchers and development practitioners to keep the needs of end beneficiaries, particularly farmers, women, and children, at the core of their innovations.
Joining virtually, Tahirou Abdoulaye, the IITA Director for the Sahel Hub, engaged in discussions on partnership and policy development. He underscored the role of research and stakeholder engagement in addressing the universal challenges of malnutrition across Africa. Esq. Afolayan agreed, stressing the potential for policymakers to elevate IITA’s innovations through strategic scaling.
During her tour of IITA’s research facilities and technological platforms, Esq. Afolayan expressed her keen interest in the innovations being developed. Her visit to the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) initiative and the IARSAF team was particularly inspiring. She encouraged young agripreneurs and scientists to leverage their access to research and innovation to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition while also contributing to developing the next generation of agricultural scientists.
The high-level visit concluded in a strategic dialogue that fostered mutual learning and laid the groundwork for cross-institutional collaboration. This engagement reinforced both organizations’ shared commitment to advancing agricultural development and ensuring food and nutrition security across Africa and globally.
Contributed by Anita Akinyomade
Contributed by
Related news