Jude Njoku

I am highly skilled in agricultural research and administration, and I bring a long record of coordinating research projects and program activities on root and tuber crops. As a national coordinator of the Sweetpotato program, I spearheaded the release of Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato for the first time in Nigeria, including releases in 2012 and 2014.

I have led multi-partner nutrition-focused sweetpotato work, championing the first release of Vitamin A sweetpotato varieties in collaboration with an international organization, and attracting and leading 5 nutrition-based sweetpotato projects sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP). I also headed the institute sub-station, coordinated administrative staff (including security staff and field experiments), and mentored newly recruited research staff in research field planning and management.

My contributions are documented through 24 journal publications (9 international), 23 proceedings (6 international), 21 annual reports, 3 book chapters (2 international), 5 training manuals, and 1 catalog. I also led farm mechanization—managing equipment repairs and operations while overseeing efficient field preparation—and I have supported community events as a Security Guard with Best Crowd Management (A GardaWorld Company).