The popular yam barn offices in the IITA-Ibadan campus have been refurbished, giving them the look, ambience and name expected of a building where good science grows. The new facility will now be known as the “IITA Root and Tuber Improvement Team Center”.
The office building is shared by scientists and researchers involved in all of IITA’s yam and cassava research. It accommodates close to 50 of the 100-plus members of IITA’s workforce comprising yam and cassava breeding staff, students, and technicians.
Describing the degeneration of the old yam barn offices before the decision was taken by management to refurbish them, Dr Elizabeth Parkes, HarvestPlus Cassava breeder, said, “The way the place looked before the renovation did not befit the kind of work we do.”
The Center now has tastefully furnished offices for scientists and students, a laboratory, meeting room, 44 standard workstations, 55 lockers, and a lobby for guests. The entire building is fully air- conditioned and also equipped with CCTV cameras, internet facilities, and fire safety devices.
Members of the Yam and Cassava breeding team during the commissioning of the new center
The new Center was commissioned on 8 July. It was an occasion for people to know and appreciate the building and to also charge those handling the facilities there to take good care and maintain them.
During the commissioning, Dr Robert Asiedu delivered a goodwill message where he told the story of the yam barn which had been in existence for over 45 years and the great transformation achieved. Dr Alfred Dixon added his voice, expressing his delight in the real transformation of the facility. He supported Mrs Charlotte Sanginga, the wife of the DG Dr Nteranya Sanginga, in officially opening the building.
The beneficiaries for whom the building was reconstructed expressed gratitude to the DG and management for this gesture. They also recognized the vital leadership of Dr Peter Kulakow, IITA cassava breeder, and the role the Facilities Maintenance Service (FMS) team played in the completion of this project.
Dr Parkes said, “Recently, management thought of the cassava and yam team and decided to refurbish the old buildings and put them in really good shape. It is now indeed like a modern office with a modest laboratory. The new building and the modern facilities for staff, students, and technicians alike, send a crystal-clear message to all who work for hours on the field in the tropical sun that their hard work, commitment, and efforts in driving forward IITA’s R4D agenda are greatly appreciated. We are still looking for an excellent name for this building to describe the teamwork of the yam and cassava breeding programs. All ideas are welcome.”
“There is no doubt that good science will take place here” Dr Parkes added.
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