As part of efforts to drive agricultural innovation and youth empowerment in Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, paid a working visit to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, April 15, 2025.

The Governor was accompanied by the Honourable Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Alfred Kemepado, alongside other senior government officials. The visit provided an opportunity to explore potential areas of strategic partnership with the globally renowned agricultural research institute.

During a guided tour of the IITA facility, Governor Diri was briefed on the institute’s extensive research in tropical agriculture, innovation in food systems, and efforts to address food insecurity and climate change in Africa. He commended the institute for its pivotal role in advancing sustainable agricultural practices across the continent.

In a presentation, the Deputy Director-General of IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashell, expressed the institute’s interest in establishing a sub-national centre in Bayelsa State. He highlighted IITA’s commitment to working with the state government to promote youth participation in agriculture, build capacity, and deliver technology-driven solutions that will enhance productivity and value chain development.

“We are here in Nigeria, which is our home. After Oyo State, Bayelsa should be number two to us,” Dr. Dashell noted. “We are willing to come to Bayelsa and, in partnership with the state government, help to develop the youths that are interested in agriculture.”

Governor Diri welcomed the initiative and affirmed Bayelsa State’s readiness to collaborate with IITA. He emphasized the state’s strategic focus on developing the full agricultural value chain, improving food production systems, and creating meaningful employment opportunities for the youth.

“We are particularly interested in the technology you bring into agricultural production, as well as value addition beyond primary produce. Bayelsa is largely a maritime state, but we have highly fertile lowlands suitable for diverse agricultural practices,” the Governor stated. “This is a timely opportunity for collaboration, and I will be directing the relevant ministries and agencies to engage with IITA in moving this partnership forward.”

This engagement marks a promising step toward the establishment of an IITA centre in Bayelsa State, and underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships for sustainable development, innovation, and youth-driven transformation in the agricultural sector.