The IITA Campus we know today owes its history to the institute’s Physical Plant Services (PPS). Plans for the first phase of construction in the campus had been completed by December of 1967, and the campus’ first building, the Crop Threshing and Drying Building (Building 201), was completed in June of 1970.
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- Entrance road under construction, 1968.
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- IITA entrance under construction, 1968.
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- Main road of IITA before construction, 1968.
William Gamble, IITA director general from 1975 to 1980, said that none of the institution’s progress would have been possible if not for the PPS. The building commissioned equipment, and assured the staff of electricity, water, and air-conditioning. These outputs, Gamble said, were critical to the development of IITA.
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- Round-about, gatehouse under construction 1969
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- Main entrance under construction, 1969.
Sources:
Lawani, S. 1992. History and Evolution of IITA’s Scientific Program. Sustainable Food Production in sub-Saharan Africa.
In the beginning was ‘Building 201’ and then PPS… IITA in the beginning, Kunle Afolabi, 2008
5 Comments
As a security officer then in IITA, i enjoy every bit of my stay on campus. A well structured serene that add glamour to the entire campus, it is a very good place to work. Happy 50th anniversary.
IITA remains great. Kudos to the current Management Team.
IITA is one of the best places to work in Nigeria with very pleasing and serene environment. I worked in IITA for 15 years and I enjoyed all the years of work.. Happy 50th anniversary
Hello Lawrence, thank you for your message.
PPS was indeed pivotal to the development of IITA, including the design and construction of the dam/lake in 1970. Having been present at the very beginning of IITA in 1967(as the son of JGH Craig), it's been interesting to see the growth of IITA into what it is today.
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