ICRISAT recognized as outstanding international partner by The CDA, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
(left) His Excellency Dr Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, Deputy Governor Kano State with Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Hakeem Ajeigbe, congratulating ICRISAT. (Right) Vice Chair Bayero University, Kano Prof Sagir Adamu Abbas Presenting Award to ICRISAT Nigeria Country Representative Dr Hakeem Ajeigbe. Photos: Dr Folorunso Akinseye, ICRISAT
The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), a World Bank-supported Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) has recognized ICRISAT as an outstanding international partner. The award was presented to ICRISAT on 16 February 2022, at an event commemorating the 10th year anniversary of CDA. The award was received by Dr Hakeem A Ajeigbe, Country Representative, Nigeria.
CDA served as a regional training hub for the West and Central Africa (WCA) sub-region. The centre was set up in Bayero University, Kano (BUK) in 2012 as part the university’s effort towards addressing the development challenges of the dryland areas. CDA established through a competitively won take-off grant from MacArthur Foundation, won USD 7.8m Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) grant from the World Bank in 2014 to become a regional Centre of Excellence specialising in dryland agriculture. In 2019, the Centre won another 5-year grant (USD 5m) from the World Bank to further the research and positively influence the development of the region. The centre runs MSc and PhD programmes in Agronomy, Agricultural Technology, Natural Resources Management and Climate Change, Agricultural Economics and Animal Science,
CDA recognized ICRISAT as an outstanding international partner for its contribution to the research on seeds, seedlings and farming machineries. The award was presented during a ceremony presided by Prof Sagir Adamu Abbas, Vice Chancellor of the University. Attended by many dignitaries, including Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Deputy Governor of Kano State, and Hon Munir Babba Dan Agundi, Member, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the event also received participation from the university staffs, NGOs, executives from processing companies, seed companies, international research institutes and farmers.
In his welcome address, Prof Jubrin M Jubrin, Director of CDA said, “The centre aims to reduce poverty, improve agricultural productivity, enhance food and nutrition security, improve natural resources and ecosystem services, mitigate the effects of climate change, and reduce conflicts and human migration.”
In his goodwill message, Dr Hakeem A Ajeigbe, Country Representative, ICRISAT-Nigeria, recalled the fruitful partnership between ICRISAT and CDA in implementing projects such as HOPE, STAR, NADiRA, TRIMMING, TAAT. He also touched upon various other areas of collaboration such as joint proposals, supervision of post-graduate research projects by ICRISAT Scientists from Nigeria and other capacity building programs for students and researchers of the Centre.
ICRISAT’s Regional Director, Dr Ramadjita Tabo is a member of CDA Advisory Board while the Country Representative Dr Hakeem Ajeigbe is a member of its Technical Committee.
