As global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) intensify, IITA–CGIAR is reinforcing partnerships to ensure that agricultural research delivers real-world impact. Leading this charge, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, engaged with Mohamed Malick Fall, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, to chart strategies for advancing food security and agricultural innovation.
During his recent mission to Abuja, Dr Ehui met with Fall for a high-level strategic dialogue focused on advancing science-driven agricultural solutions, youth agripreneurship, and financing for sustainable food systems.
Dr Ehui provided an overview of IITA-CGIAR’s research impact and major milestones achieved in recent years, emphasizing the Institute’s contributions to addressing critical challenges in Africa’s agrifood systems—particularly in soil health, seed systems, and plant health. He highlighted innovations such as the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology, which recently won an international award for its contribution to improving crop propagation and productivity.
“For IITA, with all of these technologies, the biggest challenge remains scaling —taking proven solutions to farmers at large scale for greater impact,” said Dr Ehui. “This is why strategic partnerships are critical. We are committed to working with development partners like the United Nations to ensure that Africa becomes food sufficient.”
Fall commended IITA’s contributions to agricultural research and innovation, describing the engagement as a crucial step in bridging partnerships between the UN and IITA. “This visit has been high on my list—to not only connect with IITA but to create a bridge between us,” he said. “For the UN, Nigeria is very important in terms of size and demographics, and this is critical to bringing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on track.”
He further noted that the UN is implementing six transition pathways to accelerate SDG delivery, emphasizing that for a country like Nigeria, agriculture remains the biggest channel for economic transformation. “If the right investments are channeled, agriculture can power growth and resilience,” he added. “We must also explore how to mitigate climate change and adopt systems that make agriculture more adaptive and sustainable.”
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of IITA, CGIAR, and the United Nations to promote inclusive, research-backed, and sustainable solutions that strengthen food systems, empower youth, and improve livelihoods.
“At IITA and CGIAR, we remain dedicated to forging strong, transformative partnerships that advance agricultural innovation, improve livelihoods, and build sustainable food systems for Africa’s future,” Dr Ehui stated. “Together, we can build a more resilient and food-secure continent.”
Contributed by Timilehin Osunde
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