CGIAR-IITA has been honored with an excellence award for having the best entrepreneurial activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The award ceremony was part of a conference organized by the Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC) and the government of DRC, which took place in Kinshasa, 11–12 March. IITA was cited in the annual Enterprise Challenge Forum of the FEC for distinguishing itself during the year.
Following the inauguration of the President Olusegun Obasanjo Research Campus by DRC President Felix Tshisekedi in Bukavu last October 2019, FEC officials visited the campus and cited the excellence of the facilities and scientific activities. In addition, they noted IITA’s contribution to the community, being the third largest employer in the city of Bukavu, where it is located.
IITA Director General Nteranya Sanginga represented the Institute and served as a keynote speaker and panelist. In his address, DG Sanginga spoke about the objectives of IITA to support the Congolese government in their aim to become self-sufficient and reduce their importation bill. He also highlighted the activities of the IITA Business Incubation Platform (BIP), particularly on seed production and distribution, as well as the impact of the IITA Youth Agripreneurs.
An important part of the conference was the presentation of awards to 10 different recipients in recognition of their excellent entrepreneurial activities in DRC. Example categories for the awards included best female entrepreneur, best youth entrepreneur, and best entrepreneurial activities of an institute, for which IITA was recognized.
During a formal ceremony, the award recipients were each presented with a celebratory statue designed by famous Congolese artists. In addition, the government bestowed on Dr Sanginga and the other recipients the National Medal for Civic Merit (Medaille Nationale de merite civique). The honorees also received diplomatic passports from the government of DRC, which gives them the privilege to represent the country as entrepreneurs internationally, on an individual basis, or as part of government missions.
This conference is an annual event, which the government and the FEC organize to both celebrate and stimulate entrepreneurship in DRC. This year, Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga attended the conference, as well as other dignitaries, as the government continues its push to create the “backbone” for a sustainable economy through entrepreneurship. The government is seeking to achieve this by bringing about more local production and relying less on importation.
Dr Sanginga was accompanied by wife Charlotte Sanginga, representing the IITA Women’s Group, IITA Country Representative in DR Congo Zoumana Bamba, Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse Mpoko Bokanga, and IITA-BIP CEO Frederick Schreurs.
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