Ibadan: Dr Simeon Ehui, Director-General (DG) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has reiterated the institute’s readiness to transform agriculture and address food insecurity in Sierra Leone and other African countries. Ehui stated this during the official visit of the President of Sierra Leone, Dr Julius Bio, to the institute.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the presidential visit was ‘The Power of Improved Technologies and Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate the Feed Salone Strategy’. The DG noted that the institution’s existing technology and innovation in cassava, maize, soybeans, and other crops had improved productivity, increased income, and strengthened security for millions of Africans.
Ehui emphasized that Sierra Leone stands a chance of an agricultural revolution through collaboration with IITA. “We can accelerate the deployment of high-yielding pest resistance and climate-resilient crops tailored to the country’s agricultural condition,” Ehui said. He further explained that science alone will not transform agriculture, but with partnerships, research, and investment, farmers empowered with the necessary tools and finance will drive Africa’s required agricultural transformation.
Ehui highlighted the opportunity for Sierra Leone to harness Public-Private Partnerships to drive large-scale agricultural transformation. “With the right partnership, we can turn ambition into action and action into impact in IITA. The future of Sierra Leone food security is not a distant goal; it begins here, and the conversation here must transfer into commitment,” he asserted. Ehui confirmed IITA’s readiness to work with the government of Sierra Leone to scale up technology, build human capital, support agribusiness, and transform the country’s agriculture.
President Julius Bio commended IITA for consistently driving agricultural transformation in Africa and being a dependable partner. He acknowledged that food insecurity challenges in Africa required coordinated efforts across multiple sectors and strong political will at the highest level. “I am here because I think the political will exist in Sierra Leone to support the country’s food system transformation. I firmly believe that research, innovation, and technology are the forces we must harness in order to drive Africa forward, transform the future of agriculture in Africa, and create opportunities for African farmers,” Bio stated.
Bio explained that his trip to Nigeria was part of his dedication to innovative ideas to create a world-class food system in Sierra Leone and foster progress for farmers and agribusiness. Earlier, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, noted that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation efforts had provided a strong foundation for collaboration with Sierra Leone. Ogunbiyi said both countries could accelerate agricultural development, enhance food security, and promote regional growth through partnership, shared experience, and innovation.