CIHEAM Bari Awards Scholarships to 61 Brilliant but Needy Tertiary Students in Aveyime–Battor

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As part of the broader Programme Area Africa implemented by CIHEAM Bari in Ghana, Senegal, and the Republic of Congo, within the framework of the project “Strengthening Agro-Food Ecosystems in Ghana in partnership with the Italian private system”, concrete actions continue to support youth, education, and the long-term sustainability of local agri-food systems.

In this context, on Saturday, 31 January, a scholarship award ceremony was held in the public square (Aveyime-Battor Lorry Station), in the North Tongu District, Volta Region, marking an important milestone in the project’s capacity-building and human capital development component.
The event celebrated the awarding of 61 university scholarships to talented students originating from Aveyime-Battor, who will pursue studies in agronomy and science-related fields, with the aim of strengthening local expertise and contributing to the future development of the agri-food sector in the area.

The ceremony was attended by high-level national and local authorities, including the Ambassador of Italy to Ghana and Togo, Ms. Laura Ranalli; the Liaison Officer of AICS Ghana, Mr. Enrico Roggi; the Member of Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Volta Region Minister, Hon. James Gunu; the District Chief Executive of the North Tongu District Assembly, Hon. Victoria Amefadzi Yawa Doe; the District Education Director, Mrs. Isabella Regina Ayimey; the Paramount Queen Mother of the Battor Traditional Area, Mamaga Asieku III and representatives of the Battor Traditional Council.

The CIHEAM Bari Program Coordinator for AREA Africa, Mr. Enrico Azzone and the CIHEAM Bari Project Manager for AREA Africa in Ghana, Mr. Alessandro Lorato organized and hosted the ceremony. The BFI Farm Manager, Mr. Andrea Cavallo were also present to witness the event.

The Ministry of and Food Agriculture was represented by Hon. Bright Demordzi – Feed Ghana Coordinator and Mr. Paul Siameh – Ag. Chief Director – Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Representatives of the Aveyime Development Association, traditional authorities, and other local stakeholders also took part in the event, highlighting the strong community ownership and institutional collaboration underpinning the initiative.

CIHEAM Bari scholarship programme represents a strategic investment in youth and education, reinforcing the link between academic training, innovation, and the sustainable development of local agri-food ecosystems.

The Programme is part of the Italian international cooperation initiative developed within a balanced public–private partnership framework under the Mattei Plan for Africa, and specifically falls within the Action for the Strengthening of Agro-Food Ecosystems in Africa (#AREA), co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), with CIHEAM Bari as the knowledge partner and implementing body for the public component, and BFI as the private partner.