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Dr. Nteranya Sanginga appointed as new AFAP Chairman

29 Sep 2021

With great excitement, AFAP would like to announce the appointment of Dr. Nteranya Sanginga as Chair-Elect of the AFAP Board of Trustees.

Dr. Sanginga has more than 35 years of experience in international agricultural research and development, research administration and management, and resource mobilization, particularly in the fields of applied microbial ecology, plant nutrition, and integrated natural resources management in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

In his long career, he has focused on mentoring and building the capacity of young scientists, especially youth in science, entrepreneurship, and agriculture/agribusiness in Africa.

Dr. Sanginga holds a PhD in Agronomy/Soil Microbiology and is the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Under his leadership, IITA has transformed from a pan-African research organization into the largest international agricultural research center in tropical Africa, developing solutions to agricultural and development challenges and contributing to food and nutrition security in the region.

It is a privilege for AFAP to bring onboard a leader with decades of experience, and the vision to transform the organization into a much more impactful institution in Africa.

Dr. Sanginga takes over from founding Chairman Dr Namanga Ngongi.

“Dr. Namanga Ngongi has been my mentor whose shoes are rather big for me to wear. I am humbled by the appointment and promise to do my best to advance the course and mandate of AFAP of bringing access and availability of yield-enhancing production inputs to smallholder farmers”, says Dr Sanginga.