{"id":18523,"date":"2026-06-20T13:06:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/ecowas-commissioner-pledges-stronger-regional-support-for-agricultural-transformation-2\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:45:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:45:34","slug":"ecowas-commissioner-pledges-stronger-regional-support-for-agricultural-transformation-2","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/ecowas-commissioner-pledges-stronger-regional-support-for-agricultural-transformation-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Le commissaire de la CEDEAO promet un soutien r\u00e9gional renforc\u00e9 pour la transformation agricole"},"content":{"rendered":" \n\n
\"Dr<\/a>
Dr Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Honorable Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, receiving a recognition and appreciation award from IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nIITA<\/a>CGIAR<\/a> hosted His Excellency Dr Kalilou Sylla, Honorable Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture at the ECOWAS Commission, on 20 February, in a high-level visit that reaffirmed the critical link between science, policy, and regional food security.\n\nWelcoming the Commissioner, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Sim\u00e9on Ehui<\/a>, expressed appreciation for ECOWAS\u2019 leadership and emphasized that regional collaboration is no longer optional for Africa\u2014it is essential. At a time when the continent faces climate change, soil degradation, market shocks, and food insecurity, he noted that IITA\u2019s mandate remains clear: to deliver science that anchors productivity, strengthens resilience, and improves nutrition.\n\nAs the largest international agricultural research center in Africa, IITA focuses on crops that matter most to the continent, including cassava, banana and plantain, cowpea, and yam. Through advanced genetic breeding, the Institute develops improved and climate-smart varieties that respond to farmers\u2019 needs. IITA Deputy Director General, Research for Development, Dr Bernard Vanlauwe<\/a>, et le Directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral adjoint par int\u00e9rim de l'IITA, Partenariats pour la prestation, Dr Tahirou Abdoulaye<\/a>, a soulign\u00e9 le r\u00f4le historique de l'IITA dans la r\u00e9solution de la crise des cochenilles du manioc, qui a un temps menac\u00e9 la production de manioc en Afrique, ainsi que le d\u00e9veloppement et la diffusion de nombreuses vari\u00e9t\u00e9s am\u00e9lior\u00e9es de cultures relevant du mandat de l'IITA qui ont renforc\u00e9 la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 alimentaire et les revenus.\n\n
\"Dr<\/a>
Dr Kalilou Sylla, Commissaire honoraire aux affaires \u00e9conomiques et \u00e0 l'agriculture de la CEDEAO, en compagnie du Directeur g\u00e9n\u00e9ral de l'IITA, de scientifiques et de cadres sup\u00e9rieurs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nThe Commissioner toured several key facilities, including the Genetic Resources Center (GRC), the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) facility for rapid seed multiplication of cassava and yam, the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, and the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) program.\n\nAt the Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub, discussions centered on transforming soil data into actionable recommendations. From soil testing to digital soil maps and site-specific fertilizer blends, IITA is generating critical soil intelligence to support national systems across West Africa. Digital tools such as Akilimo<\/a> aider les cultivateurs de manioc \u00e0 d\u00e9terminer leurs besoins en engrais, \u00e0 acc\u00e9der aux informations m\u00e9t\u00e9orologiques et \u00e0 prendre des d\u00e9cisions agronomiques \u00e9clair\u00e9es. De plus, l'IITA Suivi des semences<\/a> digital technology enhances transparency, traceability, and quality of seed access within seed systems and value-chain actors.\n\nYouth engagement was another highlight of the visit. Through mentorship, training, and deployment of IITA\u2019s proven technologies (including Aflasafe, NoduMax, and Black Soldier Fly-based insect feed), IITA is positioning agriculture as a viable and profitable enterprise for young people.\n\nIn his remarks, Dr Sylla described IITA as being \u201cat the heart of food security\u201d in the region. He commended the Institute\u2019s strong engagement with the private sector and youth and pledged ECOWAS\u2019 political support to mobilize additional resources and deepen regional collaboration. He emphasized the need for IITA\u2019s support in leveraging underutilized crops in war-stressed zones, as well as for ECOWAS\u2019s role to provide advisory support and create enabling environments to scale innovation across Member States.\n\nThe visit concluded with a shared commitment: aligning science, policy, and investment to accelerate agricultural transformation and secure West Africa\u2019s food future.\n\nECOWAS moves to scale Youth Agribusiness Initiative across West Africa<\/strong>\n\nDuring his visit to the Youth in Agribusiness office, Dr Sylla expressed ECOWAS\u2019 readiness to support greater youth involvement in agriculture, noting that the IYA model could be scaled up at the regional level for greater impact.\n\nHe stated, \u201cWe are in your unit because what you are doing here is very important, so we came here to see how to move this initiative forward, like raising funds for your work to make it profitable for a lot of youths within the region.\u201d\n\nThe commissioner charged young people to embrace opportunities and not be deterred by challenges. He recalled that, as a child, under his grandmother\u2019s care, feeding was a challenge, and the family was so poor that any day she missed the market or was unable to sell, there would be a food crisis in the house.\n\nHe added, \u201cHowever, hers was a story of commitment. My grandmother didn\u2019t go to school, but she insisted I go. Despite the hardships, she funded my education through the doctoral level. The youths of today need to fight for a better future rather than do nothing and complain about what is not working. If my grandmother spent all her time crying over what wasn\u2019t working, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am now.\n\n\u201cOur role is to support IITA to have more youths on this program, and your role is to see that this program becomes a model to the world.\u201d\n\nContributed by Folake Oduntan and Babatunde Ajaja<\/em>\n\nRelated Stories:<\/strong>\n