{"id":14514,"date":"2026-06-20T12:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T12:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/iita-strengthens-long-term-collaboration-with-the-british-government\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T21:25:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T21:25:34","slug":"iita-strengthens-long-term-collaboration-with-the-british-government","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/iita-strengthens-long-term-collaboration-with-the-british-government\/","title":{"rendered":"IITA strengthens long-term collaboration with the British Government"},"content":{"rendered":"

British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones<\/a>, visited IITA<\/a>\u2013CGIAR<\/a> accompanied by the High Commission\u2019s Head of Prosperity, Kris Camponi, and Senior Advisor, Wale Adebajo, from 17 to 18 November. The delegation discussed IITA\u2019s long-standing contribution to the development of African agriculture, how the UKAid with HarvestPlus is helping scale biofortified seeds and food products to end-users, and ways to contribute further to the enhancement of food and nutrition security in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IITA
IITA GRC Michael Abberton speaking about IITA\u2019s research programs and deliverables with Llewellyn-Jones, Camponi, and Adebajo from his closest right to his farthest right.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IITA West Africa Hub Director and Head of Genetic Resources Center (GRC), Michael Abberton<\/a>, welcomed the team and highlighted IITA\u2019s focus on four broad areas of agricultural research and delivery\u2014Crop improvement (breeding, biotech, and seed systems), Natural Resources Management (soil, agronomy, plant health, and plant production), Social Sciences, and Agribusiness. He added that the Institute utilizes funding from various partners for research, scaling, and delivery. IITA\u2019s Partnerships for Delivery (P4D) ensures its Research for Development (R4D) output is scaled to impact more beneficiaries positively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abberton briefed the team about the One CGIAR initiative designed to integrate the efforts of all research centers under the CGIAR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his response, Llewellyn-Jones said the UK Government has a long-standing history of working with IITA. He said they are keen to learn about IITA\u2019s contribution to climate-smart agriculture, floods, and fertilizer; and to follow progress on the recent UKAid grant with HarvestPlus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IITA
IITA Forest Center Field Supervisor, Ademola Ajayi, leading the team to enjoy nature through bird-watching.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two groups examined the challenges, shortfalls, and gaps in the current landscape of African agriculture and discussed possible engagement options to tackle them. Abberton shared both failed and successful projects of IITA\u2019s work driving sustainable development and food and nutrition security in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IITA Forest Center Field Supervisor, Ademola Ajayi, highlighted the Institute\u2019s efforts in natural resource conservation and advancing agricultural development. Ajayi said the Forest Center does this through environmental education designed to develop love and respect for nature in school children and adults. The Forest Center also contributes to mitigating climate change through its reforestation projects sponsored by national and international donors. The team wrapped up their visit with a tour of IITA Lake for a brief bird-watching activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contributed by Folake Oduntan<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, visited IITA-CGIAR accompanied by the High Commission\u2019s Head of Prosperity, Kris Camponi, and Senior Advisor, Wale Adebajo, from 17 to 18 November.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":14515,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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