The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) recently bid a fond farewell to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, as he prepares to retire from service.
The institute organised a farewell dinner to honour Umakhihe for his significant contributions during his tenure.
Speaking at the event, the institute director, Dr. Simeon Ehui highlighted that no Nigerian government representative on the board of the institute matched the contributions made by Umakhihe.
He emphasised the swift resolutions achieved under Umakhihe’s leadership, addressing challenges such as financial matters related to the Nigerian government’s statutory contributions to IITA, the CGIAR agenda, CGIAR Integration Framework Agreement, IITA Revised Bylaws and Unified Governance Review issues.
In response, Umakhihe expressed gratitude to the institute’s management and staff for the honour bestowed upon him. He reaffirmed his commitment to improving the livelihood of the Nigerian people wherever he has the opportunity to offer his services.
A statement from the ministry’s director of information, signed by Ikemefuna Ezeaja, recalled that Umakhihe assumed the position of IITA host government representative and member of its board of trustees on December 29, 2020, following his appointment as the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
