The University has enjoyed another official partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). This time around, as a National Agricultural Research Partner for Southwest, Nigeria, for the development of African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI), for the next five years. The University’s team is led by the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Felix Salako, while other members include Dr. Jamiu Azeez, Dr. Mutiu Busari and Mrs. Olabisi Onasanya; all of the Department of Soil Science and Land Management, College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), as well as Mrs. Effioanwan Asuquo, the Project Accountant from the Bursary Department.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the University Management, lead scientists from IITA on the project, Dr. Stefan Hauser and Dr. Christine Kreye, said the Institute was pleased to partner FUNAAB in the area of Cassava Agronomy for the purpose of helping farmers to increase yield and diversify cassava production in Nigeria and other African countries. According to Dr. Hauser, based on a report from the project obtained from IITA, “The African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) Project in Nigeria, was officially launched on January 27, 2016 at IITA, Ibadan, and was followed by the first planning meeting of the development partners, strategic partners, national research partners and project staff. The goal of ACAI is to reduce cassava yield gap from marginal farmer averages of around 10-11 tons per hectare to the potential attainable yields of over 30 tons per hectare. Ultimately, this will improve the livelihoods and incomes of cassava farmers in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and DR Congo”.
Responding, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Ololade Enikuomehin, who led Principal Officers of the University on the visit, expressed the delight of Management that FUNAAB staff were being recognised to lead the project in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. He also appreciated the benefits derivable from the projects in terms of capacity building through postgraduate studies, national food security and poverty alleviation, while assuring of University’s support for the project.
In another development, while handing-over the vehicle donated to the project leader, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, commended the team for making the University proud. The Pro-Chancellor acknowledged the immense contributions of Professor Salako to the development of the University. Present at the occasion were the C:AVA team, led by Professor Lateef Sanni, who represented the Cassava: Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA) Project, which is a development partner of the project while ACAI is expected to support candidates to pursue a Ph.D degree overseas and Master’s degree in FUNAAB.
