IITA International School marks ‘Water World’

Pupils set up demo on how to purify water

Pupils of the IITA International School last Saturday marked Water World, as part of efforts to bring to the front burner the importance of water and why the resource needs to be conserved.

Currently, more than 783 million people do not have access to clean safe water, and approximately 2000 children die each day from diarrheal (water-borne)diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation, according to WaterAid.

These facts provided a sober reflection for the children and parents who attended the event, and made them give thanks for not searching for water.

The ‘water world’, which is the last event for the school’s academic year began with the choir and dovetailed seamlessly to other activities such as dances, and role-plays on how people, especially women dissipate energies and time in search for water.

There were also works of art, highlighting the importance of water, measures to conserve and scientific ways of treating water.

Ms Carole Inniss-Palmer, Head of IITA School, thanked the children, parents and teachers for making the ‘Water World’ event a success.

 

Children on the field to mark 'Water World'

 

Happy International Day of Biodiversity

To celebrate International Day of Biodiversity, today CIFOR released exclusive images of the critically endangered Javan leopard. Only a few hundred of them are left in the wild and the photos are pretty incredible!

Despite threats to habitat, new photos provide hope for endangered Javan Leopard

Just 100 kilometers from one of the world's most populated cities, camera traps placed in an Indonesian national park have captured striking, high-quality images of critically endangered Javan leopard. Learn more about how CIFOR is monitoring Indonesia's forest wildlife. Read more.

As forests disappear, Indonesia must monitor big cats to reduce human wildlife conflict, says scientist

As Indonesia’s national parks face threats from deforestation and human encroachment, it’s vital that tigers, leopards and other large mammals be monitored as part of conservation efforts – otherwise clashes with people will intensify, a senior scientist with the Center for International Forestry Research warns. Read more.

CIFOR captures one of the world's rarest big cats on film

The Bulletin 14 - 17 May 2013

The Bulletin 14 - 17 May 2013 (No. 2172)

In this week's Bulletin the MIRACLE project organizes an exposure and educational tour in Malawi, amongst other stories.

The Bulletin 17 May 2013 (Special Issue)

The Bulletin 17 May 2013 (Special Issue)

Our special issue of the Bulletin covers the launch of IITA’s state of the art Science Building in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

IITA DG meets the President of Zanzibar

.......and pledges to support isle to boost production and processing of cassava.  

IITA DG and H.E Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, President of Zanzibar 

The delegation that accompanied IITA DG to meet Zanzibar president at the State House.   

IITA’s DG, Nteranya Sanginga was this week at the institute’s eastern Africa hub in Tanzania where he among others visited the President of Zanzibar, the ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Tanzania and participated in the launch of the IITA-led project that aims at boosting the production of for important staples and is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Sanginga paid a courtesy call to His Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar at the State House in Zanzibar on April 4, 2013 and assured him of IITA’s support to boost production and processing of cassava at the island. The DG also delivered an invitation to the President from Chief Olesegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria and IITA’s good will ambassador, to the inauguration of IITA’s science building for eastern Africa hub in Dar es Salaam, slotted for 13 May 2013. 

President Shein thanking the DG for the visit and the invitation which he graciously accepted, praised the institute for its good work with the isle’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in boosting the production and productivity of root tuber crops, especially cassava and yams, and appealed for more support in cassava value addition.

AfDB project launch

IITA DG addresses participants at launch of SADC-SC project in Tanzania

Sanginga also participated in the launch of the country program of the ‘Multinational – CGIAR Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC)” which seeks to increase food security and improve the income and living standards of small-holder farmers in the 20 African countries, Tanzania included, by increasing the production of four important staple crops – maize, wheat, cassava and rice.

Guest of honour:  Dr Khalid S. Mohamed

The event was officiated by Dr. Khalid S. Mohammed, Principal Secretary, Ministry of State, Second Vice President Office, Zanzibar, and United Republic of Tanzania, who assured the participants of his government’s support to the initiative that was in line with his government’s efforts to develop the agriculture sector which is one of the key drivers of the country’s economic growth.  

Speaking at the launch Sanginga, said that this partnership project holds great potential to improve the livelihood of smallholders through improving the value chains of the four priority crops in Africa – cassava, maize, rice and wheat.

Visit to DRC ambassador

From left:  Sanginga, Ambassador Mpago and Manyong

The DG also paid a courtesy call to the Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Dar es Salaam, H.E Mr Juma Mpango.

The DG briefed the ambassador on IITA’s research activities in eastern and Central Africa. He informed the ambassador that DRC was the institute’s hub for Central Africa with a Director who at the moment for logistical reasons, was based in Nairobi. He added that the institute had invested in a science facility at Kalambo near Bukavu and would in the very near future also put up a science building in Kinshasa as the headquarters of the hub. 

Ambassador Mpango warmly welcomed the DG who was accompanied by the Director for eastern Africa Victor Manyong noting the institute was playing a very important role in supporting agriculture in the region and DRC which was rebuilding itself after many years of war.