2 May 2025

IITA -CGIAR welcomed Bayelsa State's Executive Governor, His Excellency Douye Diri, to its headquarters in Ibadan on 14 April. Despite a busy political engagement in Oyo State, the Governor prioritized the visit to IITA-reflecting his strong interest in youth empowerment and agricultural transformation.

Governor Diri was accompanied by a distinguished delegation, including the Commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado; Bayelsa State Party Chairman, Solomon Agwana; General Manager of the Housing and Property Development Authority, Tonye Isenah; Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Collins Cocodia; Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah; the Governor's Liaison Officer in Oyo State, Olasupo Abiodun; and Chief Adekunle Tanwa, also from Oyo State.

The Governor and his team were welcomed with a screening of IITA's introductory video, which showcased the Institute's cutting-edge technologies, innovative research, success stories across Africa, and a testimonial from a beneficiary of the IITA Youth in Agribusiness program. After the presentation, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships for Delivery, Kenton Dashiell, warmly welcomed the Governor and his entourage.

In his remarks, Governor Diri commended IITA's renowned expertise and admired its groundbreaking work over the years. "I made every effort to be here today despite our tight schedule because of my interest in youth development and agriculture," he said. He emphasized that although Bayelsa is a maritime and lowland region, it possesses fertile land suitable for agriculture. The state is eager to unlock its potential through technological advancement and value addition across food value chains.

The Governor affirmed his readiness to initiate partnerships with IITA-CGIAR, announcing that he would instruct his Commissioner for Agriculture, Marine, and Blue Economy, alongside other relevant ministries, to immediately engage with the Institute.

"I foresee that the agricultural development initiatives developed between IITA, and the Bayelsa State Government will pave the way for my colleagues in other states to partner with IITA," he added.

Dashiell expressed deep appreciation for the Governor's prompt visit and assured him of IITA's readiness to provide technical support and expertise to drive agricultural transformation in Bayelsa State.

Contributed by Folake Oduntan

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