Youth concept excites top USAID officials

IITA youths and USAID officials

The Director, Office of Agricultural Research and Policy, Bureau for Food Security USAID, Dr Rob Bertram; and the Senior Agricultural Specialist, Economic Growth and Environment Office USAID Nigeria, Howard Batson, paid a 3-day courtesy visit to the institute between 14–16 July 2013. The delegation visited the Youth Agripreneurs office and listened to presentations about the group’s history, achievements, plans, etc. Both were impressed with the Agripreneur concept and commended the IITA Management for the initiative. Howard wrote in the visitors’ log: “Great potential waiting to take off,” while Dr Bertram had this to say: “Very exciting to see young people engaged in agribusiness development.”