1 T A L K I N G D R U M S

On 4 July 2012, the IITA bus was

on a shuttle trip to Lagos airport

with five passengers among them

were Dr Bussie Maziya-Dixon,

Crop Utilization Specialist and Mrs

Lucy Omidiran of HRS. Mr

Olawoyin Makinde was the driver.

At about 15:30, near a village called Saapade along Ibadan- Lagos expressway, a highway robbery operation was taking place. According to the driver,

Issue 5 December 2012

Talking Drums

Talking Drums

IITA rewards gallantry Mr Olawoyin, two vehicles were in front of the shuttle bus; suddenly the front vehicle stopped and was trying to make a U- turn in the middle of the road while the second vehicle reversed with full speed, hitting his own vehicle on the driver‘s side thereby damaging it seriously.

―The first 2 vehicles in front were ransacked by the robbers while one of the robbers made his way towards our vehicle with a cutlass.

As the attacker made his way towards the vehicle, the police escort, Mr Ayilara Akeem fired his gun, scaring the robbers who ran away as fast as they could.

“I will not hesitate to promote and train people,” DG Sanginga Management led by DG Sanginga has said that it will give attention to capacity development and motivation of staff.

―I will not hesitate to promote and train people,‖ Dr Sanginga said during a meeting to welcome the newly promoted staff group and recruited staff to the IITA family.

The Director General told staff to ―think first about IITA and IITA would take care of them‖.

He also reechoed the importance of human resources as a critical factor to the new administration and the success of IITA, stressing that IITA will continue to give staff the necessary training to tackle the challenges of poverty in Africa.

The DG also emphasized the need for confidence and competence among staff.

However, he reiterated that the Institute would continue to reward hard work but that lazy staff will not be tolerated in the system.

Dr Sanginga urged supervisors to always think about their subordinates.

―You should think about mentoring them… And training them and giving them the right direction. By so doing, we will build the center together,‖ he explained.

Dr Kenton Dashiell, IITA DDG (P&CD) urged the new and upgraded staff to see themselves as part of a big family that is contributing to the mission and vision of reducing hunger and poverty.

Dr Ylva Hillbur, IITA DDG (Research), encouraged the staff to uphold hard work—a virtue displayed by staff since her arrival 119 days ago.

The Security Manager, Mr David Oluwadare (extreme right) presenting a gift to

Corporal Ayilara (middle).

Upcoming events: Addax Petroleum Group

meeting, Vigna Room, 10–14 December,

General Directorate, Boardroom II, Tuesday, 11 December,

IARSAF: 4 Days Training Workshop on the use of EXCEL and SPSS for data management and analysis, Musa Room, 11-14 Dec.

Visits:

Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, (Water Treatment & Sewage), Tuesday, 11 December,

Albesta Academy, Lekki, Lagos State, (Pathology, Analytical labs & Farm Office), Tuesday, 11 December,

Abi International School, (Entomology Lab & Farm Office), Thursday, 13 December.

Dr Sanginga

2 T A L K I N G D R U M S

Meet the General Directorate support staff Oladotun Ogunjimi assumed duties as Receptionist in the General Directorate in 2009. He joined the services of IITA as Clerk Typist II in 1991 working at IRRI/INGER-AFRICA. He later worked in the CID office and the defunct PPS. His duties in the general directorate include reception duties, typing, filing, keeping records of all outgoing mails and general clerical duties. Dotun whose pet name is dot.com likes football and he is a supporter of Manchester United. Elizabeth Iyabode Jegede before joining the General Directorate staff in 2012 as Executive Assistant, had worked in the Soil Microbiology unit, the Alley Farming Network , ARPAN-WINROCK project, and the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) as a Bilingual Secretary, Bilingual Administrative Assistant and Executive Assistant, respectively. She provides general administrative and logistical support to the DDG Partnership and Capacity Development (DDG-P&CD).

Elizabeth, fondly called Lucky, loves singing, dancing, reading and cooking. She is happily married with children and grand children. Mary Ayoade Badejo who currently occupies the position of Executive Assistant (General Directorate) joined IITA in February 1993 as Executive Secretary in the defunct Personnel Unit. She later worked as Compensation Officer and Executive Assistant. She was posted to the General Directorate in April 2008. Her present duties include the provision of general and effective administrative support to the DDG (R4D) in respect of all assignments.

Mary, also called Ayo, loves to eat amala with gbegiri (local bean soup) mixed with ewedu soup. She is an avid watcher of football. Her favorite team is Manchester United. Mrs Florence Oluwatoyin Oke, whose pet name is Chocolate or ‗Sisi mi‘, assumed the position of Resource Mobilization, Protocol and External Liaison Manager recently. She has put in a total of 24 years of useful service to the Institute, having joined IITA in 1988 as Executive Assistant in the

DG‘s office. She later became Records and Archival Officer in the DG‘s office, and then Executive Assistant to the DG before her present appointment. Her duties include monitoring of Nigeria and other in-country allocations to the Institute towards appropriate and timely payment; enhancing IITA‘s public awareness activities with a view to enriching the Institute‘s relationship with donors, government agencies, collaborators, host country‘s embassies, and other relevant agencies; ensuring cooperation and understanding with relevant host government agencies to develop stronger and closer working relationships in support of IITA‘s research activities; maintaining awareness of evolving regulatory requirements, trends, and developments in the relevant agencies of the host country, documentation, processing and

renewing of re-entry visas and STR visas for IRS, issuance of invitation and visa support letters to staff and the Institute‘s visitors; maintaining documents and archiving (institutional memory) electronically and on paper ; assisting with preparations for and implementation of Board meetings and organizing and providing support for other meetings and events when required, among other tasks.

Mrs Oke likes hot yam flour paste (known as amala in Yoruba language) with mixed local soup (abula) and bush meat, and white rice with fish and locust beans stew. She also loves singing, swimming, travelling, cooking, ayo olopon (a local indoor game), volunteering, and trip planning.

IITA CICS By-laws committee submits report

The executive of the IITA Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Ltd. set up a by-law committee during their last half-year meeting. The committee has successfully completed their assignment and submitted a copy to the executives at the IITA Coop Relaxation Center on 22 November.

3 T A L K I N G D R U M S

The 2012 Sports fest Part 2, which was flagged off with an opening football match between Green and Yellow teams, and an opening address by the DG on 17 October, was brought to a close on 28 November with another football match between White Team and Yellow Team. The Yellow team

Winners emerge, as the 2012 Sportsfest Part 2 rounds off reached the final by beating Green team while White team defeated Pink team in the semi finals. Activities of the day started with a ‗team presentation walk‘ involving all the teams adorned in their colors from the Conference Center to the Sports Center at about 5.00 pm. The ‗presentation walk‘ was led by

the IITA Management team in their team colors and BOT members, who also wore IITA branded shirts. A band set was available to provide beautiful beats to which all and sundry danced to. At the end of the competition, Yellow team came tops. For details, see the table below.

List of winners in the various games:

White football team Dr Sanginga (right) passes the ball to Dr. Coulman for kick-off

4 T A L K I N G D R U M S

Welcome

We welcome the following staff who recently joined the IITA-Africa RISING Project in Tamale, Ghana.

Mohammed Tanko, Driver, 15 June 2012.

Amadu Alhassan Research Technician, 1 May 2012.

Ebenezer Korley Osom, Driver, 1 May 2012.

Shaibu Mellon Bedi, Research Supervisor, 15 May 2012.

Paul Bugri Kazussah joined the Africa RISING Project in Tamale, Ghana (AR-GH), on 1 October 2012 as the Station Administrator. Before joining the Africa Rising Project, he had about 16 years working experience with various NGOs. He holds a Bachelor‘s degree in Secretaryship and a Diploma in Education. He is a professional graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Administration and Management Consultants-Ghana.

2012 Sportsfest 2 in pictures

The Board Chair shakes hands with a member of the White team before kick-off

The DG shakes hands with a member of the Yellow team before kick-off

Dr Dashiell presents a trophy to the winner of Chess

Dr Hiillbur presents a trophy to one of the winners Dr Sanginga presents a trophy to the captain of the Blue team

5 T A L K I N G D R U M S

Talking Drums comes out every first week of the month and is produced by the Human Resource Service with the Communication Office.

Newsletter staff

Editor: Tunde Obasemola Assistant editor: Abiodun Adio Contributors: HR & Communication Design and Layout: Adegboyega Juba & Ibukun Shodeinde

Distribution: Ibukun Shodeinde Advisers: Lilian Mendoza & Katherine Lopez Contact: sobasemola@cgiar.org

Mr Rex receives a trophy from a BoT member An array of trophies for the competition

Mr Wole receives a trophy from the DG on behalf of Green team Dr Asiedu (right) presents a trophy to Muyiwa

Ngozi being assisted after the 8 km long walk The Board Chair (far right) presents the cup to the champion with the

assistance of Mr. Sholola (middle)

Mr Felix (left) receives a trophy from a BoT member