Check out my latest article: If Africa Neglects Its Root and Tuber Crops, What Will Feed Its Future? linkedin.com/pulse/africa-ne… via @LinkedIn

I join the world to celebrate the power of agricultural innovation, and the extraordinary people working to end hunger and transform lives.. The future of food is not just about growing more but in innovating better, empowering farmers, and turning research into real impact.

I am deeply humbled and sincerely grateful to the @WorldFoodPrize recognizing me as one of the 2026 Top Agrifood Pioneers (TAP). This reflects not only my personal journey but also the collective efforts of many outstanding individuals and institutions in the world.

🧬🌱 #Cassava Genomics @ #PAG33 Join me as I host global experts in cutting-edge science. 📍 San Diego | 🗓️ Jan 13, 2026 | ⏰ 4PM lnkd.in/gUryh5MH From metabolomics & nanopore sequencing to biofortification, RNAi & starch genetics, this is cassava genomics at the frontier.

EARLIER TODAY: Honoured to witness the launch of the Abia State Agricultural Dynamics Database System (ADDS) today in Umuahia, a bold step toward data-driven, smart agriculture in Abia State. This platform will transform how we plan, target interventions, and scale productivity across key crops, especially our strategic root and tuber crops. During the event, I indicated that @nrcri_umudike is excited because the ability to access real-time data on farmers, production clusters, soil information, disease hotspots, seed systems, and market flows will greatly strengthen the precision of our research, the targeting of our improved varieties, and the expansion of climate-resilient technologies across the state. Congratulations to the Abia State Governor, HE Dr. @alexottiofr and the Hon Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Cliff Agbaeze for this visionary initiative. We hope that this eventually becomes a model for the rest of Nigeria. When data is organized, agriculture accelerates. What God Cannot Do Does Not Exist 🔥

Delighted to announce that the Federal Government of Nigeria has granted @nrcri_umudike a groundbreaking innovation patent for optimized #turmeric formulations, unlocking its full potential for overall wellness! The formulations include: - Non-activated turmeric tea from rhizomes, - Activated turmeric tea for enhanced curcumin release, - Turmeric green tea from leaves This innovation positions NRCRI at the forefront of value-added natural products and strengthens Nigeria’s growing bio-economy. This is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food and Nutrition Security of Mr. President @officialABAT Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Patent Ref: RP:NG/PT/NC/O/2024/15488 Date of Patent: 11 Dec 2024 Proud of NRCRI Research Team. Proud of NRCRI. Proud of Nigeria. 🇳🇬

Earlier this morning I was part of a high-level panel that discussed the theme of the 4th @PlantAPBA African Plant Breeders Association - #APBAConf2025 that took place at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: “Winning the race against food security, malnutrition, and climate change in Africa. It was a very diverse panel set that brought together public breeders from the International and national breeding programs, seed sector practitioners and private sector. I surmised that winning the race against food insecurity, malnutrition and climate change in Africa will require science‑driven crop improvement, nutrition‑sensitive breeding, diverse cropping systems, community‑centred seed systems and coordinated policy and financing. By aligning plant breeding with broader food‑system transformation, Africa can build resilience, nourish its people and adapt to an uncertain climate. How do we amplify the voices in the hall to policymakers?