Maize Improvement Programme for Southern Ecology was formerly Cereals Improvement Unit. It was so named in order to accommodate cereals such as sorghum, rice and millet. As at that time, the programme was a unit under Farming Systems Research and Extension Programme. The programme became independent in the year 1993 when the institute got the national mandate for maize production in the southern ecology of Nigeria. This was affirmed by approval of the Minister in 2010. The name finally changed to Maize Improvement Programme for Southern Ecology in 2014 to reflect scope, task and mandate of the programme.

The programme has the mandate for genetic improvement of maize with resistance to pests (armyworm., stem-borers, vertebrate pests) and diseases(fungal, streak, viral ) and other constraints to high productivity in the southern agro-ecologies. The programme also collaborates with national and international agricultural research institutes, to ensure great benefits to the farmers in the zone.

The programme has experienced and competent scientists from various disciplines including Maize Breeding, Crop Physiology, Plant Protection, Seed Science, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development and Agricultural Economics.

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Research Objectives

  • Crop varietal development and breeding to ensure sustainable yield increase.

  • Crop protection and utilisation (value addition for end-users).

  • Impact assessment through effective information dissemination and monitoring and evaluation of released maize varieties.
Research Focus

Development of improved, stress-resistant and adaptable maize varieties for increased production and better livelihood in southwest and south east agro-ecologies.

Current Activities
    • Baseline study to ascertain the biotic and abiotic constraints to maize productivity due to climate change.
    • Development of multiple stress resistant maize genotypes to mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses occasioned by climate change, and for enhanced productivity.
    • Evaluation of maize genotypes for tolerance to drought, response to various fertilizers types and to determine soil mineral uptake and micro-nutrients for maize genotypes to be developed.
    • Assessment of maize genotypes to be developed for resistance to pests and diseases. 
    • Development  of appropriate approach for the control of maize constraints.
    • Laboratory assessment of climate smart maize varieties for nutrient content,  utilisation potentials, and products development.
    • Development of provitamin A maize to tame hidden hunger among vulnerable groups in South West Nigeria.
    • On- farm demonstration of high yielding, early maturing maize tolerant  to multiple stresses in  southwestern Nigeria.
    • Dissemination and promotion of climate smart technologies for wider adoption by farmers.
    • Multi-location and on-farm trials for release of promising hybrid popcorn varieties.
    • Studies on maize streak disease in  southwestern Nigeria towards the development of its control strategies.
Our Collaborators
    • International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
    • University of Ilorin
Past Achievements

    • The programme in collaboration with scientists in the Maize Program of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) released and registered two different maize varieties namely ARTMAZ 001 and ARTMAZ 002 in the year 2023. The materials were bred to tolerate armyworm with yield potentials of 7 to 9.5 metric tonnes / ha 

    • Integrated pest management of Fall Armyworm (FAW), utilizing Beauveria spp., selected botanicals, and synthetic pesticides. This study confirmed that Beauveria spp. is an effective biological pesticide for managing FAW. Neem and Tithonia diversifolia also showed effectiveness. However, further work is needed to package these eco-friendly solutions for farmers.

    • Some popcorn varieties and hybrids for adaptation to southern agro-ecologies of Nigeria were developed. The developed lines are undergoing evaluation for the process of release in March 2026.

    • Capacity building of about 200 youths across the southwest geo-political zone on profitable maize production under climate change and other constraints in southwest Nigeria.

    • Capacity building of about 150 youths across southwest geo-political zone on technologies involved in quality seed production of maize.
    Future Plans
      • Release of low nitrogen tolerant yellow and white hybrid maize to reduce cost of input and enhance higher yield per hectare.

    •      Development of new maize varieties.

    •     Establishment of more eco-friendly strategies for field and post-harvest       safety of produce and germplasm to combat the challenges of climate           change and resource-poor farmers in order to enhance /improve their             level of productivity.
      • Collaboration with relevant stakeholders nationally and internationally for better productivity and improved livelihood of maize growers
    Services Rendered

    • Development and release of new maize varieties

    • Production of farmers guide on good agronomic practices 

    MEET Our RESEARCH Team

    joolasoji
    Prof. JULIUS OLUSEYI OLASOJI

    Research Professor

    Seed Science & Tech

    Published Work
    saolakojo

    Prof. SAMUEL  ADELOWO OLAKOJO

    Research Professor

    Plant Breeding

    Published Work
    oaakinbode
    Prof. OLUWAFOLAKE A. AKINBODE

    Research Professor

    Plant Pathology

    Published Work
    djogunniyan
    Prof. DOTUN  J. OGUNNIYAN

    Research Professor

    PLANT BREEDING

    Published Work
    soolanipekun

    Dr. SAMSON OYEWOLE OLANIPEKUN

    Senior Research Fellow

    CROP PHYSIOLOGY

    Published Work
    Olubunmi Abiodun ALUKO
    Prof. OLUBUNMI ABIODUN ALUKO

    Research Professor

    AGRONOMY(WEED SCIENCE)

    Published Work
    TIMOTHY Modupe Ifejola Joan
    Dr. MODUPE IFEJOLA JOAN  TIMOTHY

     Research Fellow I

     AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY

    Published Work
    fbanjorin
    Dr. FOLAKE BOSEDE ANJORIN

    Principal Research Fellow

    CROP PHYSIOLOGY

    Published Work
    FAFEMI TITILAYO OLADAYO

    TITILAYO OLADAYO FAFEMI

    Junior Research Fellow

    PLANT GENETICS

    Published Work
    daramolababatunde
    BABATUNDE DARAMOLA

    Junior Research Fellow

    PLANT PATHOLOGIST

    Published Work
    ADELEKE Mariam Adeniran
     MARIAM ADENIRAN ADELEKE


    Junior Research Fellow

    PLANT PATHOLOGIST

    Published Work

    MEET Our TECHNICAL Team

    Adeyeye Omoniyi Olufunso

    ADEYEYE A. OMONIYI  

    CHIEF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    olumartins005@gmail.com

    Ogundele Bosede

    OGUNDELE BOSEDE   

    CHIEF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    bosedeogundele35@gmail.com

    Ogedemgbe Tolulope Esther

    OGEDEMGBE E. TOLULOPE  

    PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    etolutiti@yahoo.com

    Awoyemi Olufunmilayo Dorcas

    AWOYEMI D. OLUFUNMILAYO  

    PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    awofunmi2002@yahoo.com

    Badmus Debo Musa

    BADMUS M. DEBO   

    SENIOR AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    demus4real@gmail.com

    Aroh Loretta Chioma

    AROH C. LORETTA  

    PRINCIPAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    lorettachioma81@gmail.com

    Samede Odunayo

    SAMEDE ODUNAYO   

    AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    olusanyaodunayo05@gmail.com

    Egbum Olanike

    EGBUM OLANIKE   

    SENIOR AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIST

    olanikeegbum@gmail.com

    Oladiji Mukaila Babatunde

    OLADIJI B. MUKAILA   

    FARM SUPERVISOR

    babatundeoladiji79@gmail.com

    Fashina Oluseye Omolewa

    FASHINA O. OLUSEYE   

    FARM SUPERVISOR

    oluseyeomolewafashina@gmail.com

    Kolapo Oludare Gabriel

    KOLAPO G. OLUDARE   

    SENIOR FARM ASSISTANT I

    oludarekolapo034@gmail.com

    Mr Oladele Olumide Paul

    OLADELE P. OLUMIDE   

    SENIOR FARM ASSISTANT I

    oladeleolumide@gmail.com

    Olaniyan Kolawole Micheal

    OLANIYAN M. KOLAWOLE   

    SENIOR FARM ASSISTANT I

    kolaniyan328@gmail.com

    Oyedepo Micheal Oluseyi

    OYEDEPO M. OLUSEYI   

    SENIOR FARM ASSISTANT I

    oyedepomichael0@gmail.com

    Adeoye Ibrahim Oluwaseun

    ADEOYE I. OLUWASEUN   

    FARM ATTENDANT 

    adeoyeib@gmail.com

    Osadiya Adewumi

    OSADIYA ADEWUMI   

    PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    osadiyaade@gmail.com

    Afolabi Sade Stella

    AFOLABI S. SADE   

    SENIOR DATA OFFICER

    adiegwusade@gmail.com

    Moronfolu Rashidat Kehinde

    MOROUNFOLU R. KEHINDE   

    SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    onigbinderashidat@gmail.com

    Olajide Christianah Titilayo

    OLAJIDE C. TITILAYO   

    ASST. CHIEF CLERICAL OFFICER

    titiola44@gmail.com

    Owosibo Julianah Amoke

    OWOSIBO J. AMOKE   

    HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    owosibojulianah@gmail.com

    Miss Okafor Juliet Uzoamaka

    OKAFOR J. UZOAMAKA   

    HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    julietokafor61@gmail.com

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