Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, the Nigerian agricultural scientist who excelled as the top researcher for a research project in West Africa, has been elected the new President of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Nwanze, who has been the vice President of IFAD, was elected the new President of the UN agency during the 32nd session of IFAD’s Governing Council, in Rome, Italy, the African Union (AU) said on Monday.
Nwanze, a long-standing African scientist, has been involved in agricultural research across the West African region and has been recognized for his work at the helm of the African Rice Centre (WARDA), of which he was director-general.
The Nigerian scientist replaces Lennart BÃ¥ge, a German, who has been the head of the UN agency for the past eight years.
Nwanze was elected to the post after defeating other candidates from India, Niger and Germany, according to information made available to PANA from the AU Commission’s Department of Rural economy, which congratulated the new President.
The AU said it was looking forward to continued collaboration with the new office holder in promoting Africa’s agriculture.
“The African Union Commission and, indeed, the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture welcomes this positive development congratulates Dr. Nwanze and looks forward to continued collaboration in support of African agricultural production and productivity, food security, rural development and poverty eradication,” the AU statement reiterated.
The new IFAD official takes over office against the backdrop of declining foreign aid investments in Africa’s agriculture and a gloomy outlook on Africa’s food security situation.