From 28 to 31 May, IITA had the honor of hosting the Ethiopian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Ambassador Legesse Geremew Haile, accompanied by his spouse and the Minister Counsellor, Misgna Teklu Abrha. Their visit was to deepen their understanding of IITA’s research activities and explore opportunities for collaboration between Ethiopia and IITA.
A courtesy meeting with senior management was held to officially welcome the delegation and provide an overview of IITA’s mission and impact. During the session, Dr Kenton Dashiell, the former Deputy Director General of Partnerships for Delivery, emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic importance within IITA’s broader agenda for transforming agriculture in Africa.
“If we can be successful in Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria, we can transform the continent,” he stated. Dr Dashiell acknowledged Ethiopia’s seriousness in implementing agricultural programs and projects by emphasizing the role of partnerships, particularly with governments. “We have a strong Ethiopian team here, and we are eager to support your role as Ambassador by showcasing our work and identifying areas for collaboration,” he added.
Ambassador Legesse appreciated the warm reception, noting that IITA felt like home. He commended the visible impact of the institute’s research across the continent and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to improving livelihoods through agriculture. “Changing lives and lifting people out of poverty is not easy, especially when agriculture is underperforming. The Ethiopian government is committed to professionalizing the agricultural sector because we cannot overcome poverty without achieving food security,” he remarked. He emphasized his interest in learning from IITA’s successes and fostering meaningful partnerships during his tenure in Nigeria.
Dr Dashiell assured the Ambassador of IITA’s readiness to collaborate with Ethiopia and proposed a guided tour of the institute’s facilities as a starting point for more in-depth discussions. The places visited include Knowledge Center, Germplasm Virology Laboratory, Food Nutrition and Science Laboratory, Genetic Resource Center, Bioscience Center, Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Hub, Cassava Processing Utilization and Mechanization, and other facilities within the institute.
The visit concluded with a wrap-up session anchored by the present IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, Dr Tahirou Abdoulaye, where the Ambassador expressed his deep impression of IITA’s work. “Every scientist we met was cooperative and explained their work in detail. It was heartwarming and enlightening to see everything firsthand. Hearing about IITA is one thing; experiencing it is something else entirely,” he said.
During the final discussions, the Ambassador proposed formalizing the relationship between IITA and the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), suggesting that such a move would enable a sustainable and institutional partnership beyond project-based interactions. “My team will work closely with you to realize this initiative,” he affirmed.
In response, Dr Tahirou welcomed the proposal and suggested arranging a visit by IITA’s Director General to the Ethiopian Embassy as a follow-up step. As a goodwill gesture, IITA presented gift bags to the Ethiopian delegation, who offered the institute two beautifully crafted, Ethiopian-designed placards.
Contributed by Ochuwa Favour Daramola
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