Maize in West Africa: Importance and Production Constraints -- Climatology of Maize in West and Central Africa -- Anatomy and Physiology of Maize -- Pollination Techniques -- Population Improvement and Development of Open Pollinating Varieties -- Inbred and Hybrid Maize Development -- Heterotic Grouping, Testers, and Molecular Approaches in Hybrid Maize Production -- Breeding Quality Protein Maize (QPM) -- Breeding for Striga Resistance -- Breeding for Drought Tolerance -- Breeding for Tolerance to Low Soil Nitrogen -- Breeding for Disease Resistance -- Breeding for Insect pest Resistance -- Genotype x Environment Interaction and Repeatability of Traits at the Biotic and Abiotic Screening Sites in West and Central Africa -- Selection Indices and Use of Secondary Traits -- Variety Testing and Release -- Commercialization of Early and Extra-early Maize and Impact on Maize Production and Productivity in West and Central Africa -- Current Perspectives and Future Challenges of Maize Improvement in West and Central Africa.