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On March 17, 2022, Dr Illiassou Mossi MAÏGA became the new Managing Director of the Institut national de la recherche agricole du Niger (INRAN). 

He was previously Deputy Director General of INRAN. He replaces Dr Mella MAMANE who was appointed on June 8, 2017 and has spent nearly five (05) at the Institute's Direction.

CORAF's Executive Director, Dr Abdou TENKOUANO, declared that "it has been a pleasure to collaborate with the outgoing Director General of INRAN, Dr Mella MAMANE, whose leadership has facilitated collaboration and enabled the implementation of projects that have positively impacted the lives of several million people in Niger". 

"I congratulate Dr Illiassou MAÏGA on his brilliant appointment as Director General of INRAN, and I am convinced that the collaboration between CORAF and INRAN will become even stronger". 

Created in 1975, INRAN is Niger's leading agricultural research institute.

It acts as an engine for growth and development in rural areas.

For several years now, it has been working closely with CORAF, which supports agricultural research in the country through a number of initiatives.

"In collaboration with INRAN, CORAF has implemented several projects in Niger, including the West African Agricultural Productivity Program, financed by the World Bank, which has a number of achievements to its credit in the country, including the establishment of the National Livestock Specialization Center," emphasizes Dr. TENKOUANO. 

Several other CORAF projects are currently being implemented in the country by INRAN.

These include the Strengthening Networks and Institutional Capacities in Plant Breeding for the Development of Resilient Crops to Meet the Needs of Farmers in West Africa(ABEE) project - funded by the European Union - and the Partnership for Agricultural Education, Research and Development(PAIRED) program - funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

"We look forward to continuing and expanding our collaboration with INRAN in our mutual quest to improve the well-being of the people of Niger and the sub-region," said CORAF's Executive Director.

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