The two terms of office of Nigeria's Kanayo Nwanze as Director General of the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) ended recently. His successor, Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck, has assumed office since October 7. Dr Nwanze, who has since handed over, stated that this would ensure a smooth transition at the helm since he was going on leave from October 15 to November 30, when he would officially separate from WARDA at the end of his second term.
Dr Seck, a Senegalese, was appointed WARDA's new Director General at an extraordinary session of the WARDA Council of Ministers on 22 June 2006 in Abuja, Nigeria, according to Savitri Mohapatra, head of communications at the Africa rice Center (WARDA)
Dr Seck, on assuming office, reiterated that his work at WARDA would be built on the pillars of "transparency, equity, scientific excellence, strengthening of collaboration with the national agricultural research systems and an open-door policy towards all partners."
He spelt out his priorities thus: expanding WARDA's scientific and geographical mandate; accentuating WARDA's unique strengths in research, development and partnership to generate and disseminate highly relevant technologies, such as the NERICAs, for different ecosystems; enhancing the culture of excellence in every area at WARDA.
Other areas of priority, he said, are: strengthening of WARDA's relationship with the national agricultural research and extension systems; increasing the impact and visibility of WARDA's research through strategic communication programmes targeted to various stakeholders; and fostering diversification of R&D activities through a dynamic "market-oriented" process to increase end-use value of rice.
Dr Seck said that the strategies to achieve these priorities will include effective fund-raising plans, openness towards all partners, and enhanced advocacy for rice research.
He expressed full commitment to the Regional Medium Term Plan for West and Central Africa, adding that WARDA would be actively engaged in its implementation.
Since January 2005, WARDA has been working from Cotonou, Benin, having relocated from its headquarters in BouakZ