The Business Incubation Platform (BIP) of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is being repositioned to tackle the agribusiness challenges of 2023 and beyond in more strategic, systemic and sustainable ways. The new Chief Executive Officer of the organization, Dr Debo Akande, made the promise recently at a meeting with the staff of all the units and subsidiaries operating on the platform.

While addressing the staff, Akande noted that even though the units have not done badly, he is poised to ensure synergy across the platform to deliver the kind of agribusiness solutions needed to catalyze Africa’s agricultural transformation as being led by IITA.

The Business Incubation Platform (BIP) houses business entities created to commercialize and deliver research products and outputs of IITA at scale. They include IITA GoSeed, Nodumax, and Agriserve. It also runs joint ventures with Crop Nutrition Laboratory Services Ltd (Cropnuts), Agri Frontier Ltd and Contec Global Agro Limited.

Akande, bringing on board years of experience as an agribusiness specialist, urged the staff to braze up for a new delivery style, as IITA BIP will not be limiting itself to Nigeria under the new dispensation. He stressed that the BIP must retrace its steps to the original intent and reach its expected heights.

“We are all going to work together to reposition BIP to live up to the purpose for which it was created,” said the CEO. “It will be challenging and exciting, and in the long run, rewarding and fulfilling for every staff. But we must start by refamiliarizing ourselves with the mission and vision of BIP and the objectives for which it was created.

Dr Akande revealed that he would borrow a leaf from the leadership style of the outgoing Director-General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, in addressing some of the organizational challenges observed. He also assured the staff he would run an open-door policy and ensure a fertile ground for innovative ideas. “I can assure you that in no distance time, there will be a new culture, new attitude and a new people-centred system in BIP”, said the new CEO, who, before his appointment, was the head of Mechanization and Agribusiness in IITA.

Dr Akande finally noted that his predecessor, Dr Fredicrick Schreurs did an excellent job and deserved to be commended.

The new IITA BIP CEO wears two other caps as the Executive Adviser on Agribusiness to the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, and the Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA).