Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the departing president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has been appointed to the esteemed Council of Advisors of the World Food Prize Foundation.
Mashal Husain, president of the Foundation, made the announcement in a statement released in New York and provided to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Adesina was recognized as a 2017 World Food Prize Laureate for his groundbreaking contributions to agriculture and food security throughout Africa. His ten-year term at AfDB comes to an end in September.
“President Adesina transforms bold ideas into tangible impact—embodies the values and vision of Dr. Norman Borlaug,” Husain remarked. He is a remarkable addition to our Council of Advisors because of his lifetime dedication to agricultural innovation, sustainability, and economic growth throughout Africa. It is a privilege to have him return to the Foundation in this new capacity.
The Council of Advisors is made up of eminent world leaders, including ministers, scientists, politicians, and past heads of state, who are entrusted with directing the Foundation’s activities and furthering Borlaug’s vision of a world without hunger.
Adesina responded by expressing gratitude, saying: “I am incredibly honored to be a part of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Council of Advisors. In addition to being a mentor, Dr. Norman Borlaug was a personal inspiration whose dedication to eradicating hunger influenced my own path. I carry his legacy with me as a Laureate, and I am excited to collaborate with the Foundation to promote audacious, scientifically based solutions that empower farmers, feed countries, and change the globe.
An internationally recognized development economist and agricultural specialist, Adesina played a key role in initiating programs that improved loan availability for millions of smallholder farmers, addressed corruption in Nigeria’s fertilizer distribution system, and dramatically increased food production.
Adesina was Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015, the year before he was appointed to the AfDB, becoming the first Nigerian to hold the role.
Additionally, he held important positions at AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and the Rockefeller Foundation.
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The “High 5” development agenda—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa—was promoted by Adesina while he was the head of the African Development Bank.
The bank’s capital increased from $93 billion to $318 billion under his direction, allowing for historic investments in food systems, infrastructure, and youth entrepreneurship.
World Food Prize Foundation CEO Tom Vilsack stated, “Dr. Adesina has long been a trailblazer in global agriculture and economic development.” “African agriculture has changed under his leadership, from combating corruption to empowering farmers and promoting sustainable growth.”
Adesina graduated from Purdue University with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics. After his tenure as AfDB president ends in September, he is anticipated to take up his new position on the Council.
The World Food Prize, established by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, recognizes people who have made a major contribution to the availability, quality, or quantity of food worldwide.
The prize, which has been given to 55 global changemakers since its establishment, is given out every year during the week-long Borlaug Dialogue, which focuses on ending world hunger.
