Partners of the Co-Producing Knowledge on Sustainable Growth through Service Learning Pedagogy (COPAFEU) project, an EU Erasmus-funded initiative, paid a courtesy visit to IITA–CGIAR headquarters in Ibadan, as part of a tour of key innovation centers in the city.
The delegation was led by Professor Olugbenga Adeoluwa, a professor of soil fertility and testing from the Department of Soil Resources Management at the University of Ibadan, and the Nigerian Team Lead for the COPAFEU project.
The Nigerian team comprises the University of Ibadan (UI), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and several other international partners.
Prof. Adeoluwa expressed appreciation for the visit and commended IITA’s level of innovation, particularly in cassava production and value addition. He highlighted the micropropagation of cassava stems as a major innovation of his research interest. According to him, the ability to produce thousands of clean planting materials simultaneously significantly reduces the waiting period for field propagation and strengthens the cassava seed system for seed companies. He also praised the institute’s processing equipment, especially the energy-efficient peeling machine and the wide range of cassava value-added products, including pastries, cooked cassava cake, vegetables, and starch. He further noted that IITA’s innovations could help improve indigenous technologies and contribute to food security in Nigeria.
Dr Chrys Akem, IITA Deputy Director-General for Partnerships for Delivery and Scaling, welcomed the partners on behalf of the institute while receiving the delegation in Ibadan. Dr Akem explained that IITA-CGIAR has led agricultural research and development in Africa for over 50 years, generating innovations that address food insecurity, poverty, and low productivity among smallholder farmers.
He emphasized IITA’s strong collaboration with universities across Nigeria, especially the University of Ibadan, noting that many agriculture students conduct their practical training and research at the institute. Dr Akem added that IITA works closely with local and international partners to develop demand-driven technologies and ensure that research outputs reach farmers who need them.
The visit to IITA was part of the COPAFEU partners’ familiarization tour of Ibadan. After the stop at IITA, the team continued to key historic and cultural landmarks within the city.
Contributed by Victoria Idowu
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