Following the exploratory visit of officials of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA to the Federal University of Technology Akure FUTA Central Laboratory on Thursday, 17th August, 2023 a Memorandum of Understanding to add further fillip to the agreed collaboration was officially signed between the two institutions on 26th January, 2024 at the IITA Office, Ibadan.
The MOU has eight components of collaborative activities which include Sharing of open calls for research grant proposals, Joint writing of research and project proposals for grant applications in line with IITA’s objectives, Joint Implementation of collaborative research projects, Postgraduate Training of IITA Scholars in FUTA, Staff Exchange and sharing of facilities (FUTA staff as IITA Visiting Scientists, FUTA postgraduate students on exchange programme at IITA for research purposes, Internship opportunities for FUTA students at IITA), Joint organization of seminars and workshops where IITA and FUTA staff serve as resource persons, Staff and students training on instrumentation and novel techniques in Biotechnology, Agriculture and related fields at IITA, and Train-the-Trainer Courses and Workshops for Technologists and Scientists by IITA scientists on return from overseas training to train FUTA Scientists and Technologists either in IITA or FUTA, subject to availability of resources and in line with IITA’s research priorities.
The activities were highlighted by Dr. Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Delivery, with the concurrence of the Vice Chancellor, FUTA, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji.
During the MOU signing ceremony, Professor Micheal Abberton, Director, Western African Hub and Head, IITA Genebank, expressed joy over the collaboration which already kickstarted with the First Research Seminar held by Central Research Laboratory, FUTA in collaboration with IITA corroborating the foreseen successful implementation of the MOU.
The Vice Chancellor, FUTA Professor Oladiji in her response remarked that FUTA ranks as the best University of Technology in Nigeria and one of the country's leading research-intensive University. She noted that Researchers from the Federal University of Technology Akure, won the highest number of grants out of the 185 research proposals scheduled for funding under the 2023 Grant Cycle by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund's (TETFund) National Research Fund (NRF) initiative.
Professor Oladiji emphasized that FUTA is interested in benefitting from IITA in terms of holistic capacity development for technical and academic manpower, maintenance of laboratory equipment since IITA is supported and funded by several foreign organizations.
She said FUTA made a wise decision in partnering with IITA, an institution which has consistently maintained the peak of excellence as an international institute in Nigeria contributing meaningfully to the development of the nation through research for improved livelihoods, enhanced food and nutrition security, and preservation of integrity of natural resources. She concluded that the MOU serves as basis for a longer partnership with IITA.
The MOU was signed by two signatories from IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell (IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Delivery) and Professor Michael Abberton (Director, Western African Hub and Head, IITA Genebank) and three signatories from FUTA, Professor Adenike Temidayo Oladiji (Vice Chancellor, FUTA), Mr. Charles Olusegun Adeleye (Registrar) and Professor Folasade M. Olajuyigbe (Director, Central Research Laboratory (CRL), FUTA).
The signed MOU becomes effective upon signature by the two Parties and remains in force for a period of 5 years. Thereafter it may be renewed from year to year subject to agreement of the Parties.The MOU signing ceremony was witnessed by the Associate Director, CRL, FUTA, Dr. Samuel T. Ogunjo, Mrs. Temitope E. Olabiran (Principal Technologist, CRL, FUTA) and Professor Benjamin O. Akinyele (Member, CRL Team on MOU Implementation). IITA also had Dr. Olaniyi Olatomi (IITA Seed Bank Manager) and Barr. Emmanuel Aluko (Legal and Administrative Officer) as witnesses.
