Edward Baars

It’s been tough and still….to admit that I will not see you again. Difficult to pen down the beautiful memories, because I don’t want to accept that you are gone. I met Edward, affectionately called Ed by close pals in 2012. Throughout our journey together, Ed consistently showed unwavering dedication, professionalism, and passion for work. Our journey in N2Africa, a project implemented by IITA was fun-filled. He ensured a close working relationship for evidence-based results from our Public Private Partnerships which he led the development-a very successful model through which N2Africa was implemented across 11 countries in Africa. If I say fun-filled, it was really fun-filled. I remember one evening in Dar es Salaam, when Ed as usual offered to take Fred and I out for dinner. Ed confidently leading us in his then 7year old safari boots, we walked for 45mins on the streets, and each time we paused to ask Ed, where exactly are we going, he says, its just hear, with that calm toned voice. We ended up in a slum where we all agreed this is no go, we asked a driver in Swahili and he said, oh I’m so sorry, you have been walking in the opposite direction of the location. We boarded a tuktuk (a tricycle), got to our destination finally, and believe you mean, we were served naan and curry. I looked at Ed’s safari boots, Fred’s dirty shoes, my dirty jeans, and just burst out laughing. We could have gotten this at our hotel right, Ed?, but you just wanted the fun of walking with us, on the road, talking, laughing, etc. Ed, your willingness to share knowledge, collaborate, and support others created an environment of growth and success for me as a colleague and strengthened our friendship. Your positive attitude and genuine kindness made every day a desire to work alongside you. I admired your other characteristics beyond professional contributions, your genuine care and concern for others, you will call or send a WhatsApp message if you do not hear from me for two weeks. The usual message “Hi Theresa, all ok? It’s been a while. Are you back in Nairobi? Can we catch up with Fred?”. It was always a pleasure meeting, sharing a plate of meal-I know you never ordered your own meal, but will take from our plates and ask after eating, but you are satisfied? You will forever be remembered, and there is no expression of gratitude that can quantify the love you displayed to people around you. You were devoted to your family, friends, and work, always ready to assist others without hesitation. you possessed a kind heart, an innovative mindset, and remarkable patience. Two characteristics that stood out the most about Ed were his selfless generosity and strong work ethic. The loss of Ed is truly a loss of an exceptional individual. RIP…Ed