Otamere Gladness 
IITA Director-General, Simeon Ehui meets UN Resident Coordinator, Mohamed Fall
ABUJA, Nigeria – The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has renewed its commitment to advancing agricultural transformation and food security in Nigeria through stronger partnerships with the United Nations (UN) and other key stakeholders.
In a statement on Monday, IITA’s Head of Communication, Katherine Lopez, said the commitment followed a high-level meeting betweenIITA Director-General, Dr Simeon Ehui, and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, and Mr Mohamed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria.
Ehui emphasised that the institute is determined to scale proven, research-driven technologies to reach millions of farmers nationwide.
“Our greatest challenge is scaling — taking innovations from the lab to the field. Through strategic partnerships, we aim to make Africa food-secure,” he said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, continues to face serious food production challenges linked to climate change, declining soil fertility, post-harvest losses, and limited access to improved technologies.
Highlighting IITA’s scientific achievements in seed systems, soil health, and plant protection, Ehui said the institute’s research supports resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
UN Coordinator, Mohamed Fall reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, noting that agriculture remains the country’s strongest lever for economic growth.
“For Nigeria, agriculture offers the biggest pathway to inclusive development if properly prioritised,” Fall stated.
The meeting underscored IITA’s and the UN’s shared vision to drive science-based, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture across Africa.
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Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwafunbi Bello 