Former African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has been appointed to the esteemed Council of Advisors of the World Food Prize Foundation.
Mashal Husain, the President of the Foundation, made the announcement in a statement that was shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and released in New York. In recognition of his revolutionary contributions to agriculture and food security throughout Africa, Adesina was named a World Food Prize Laureate in 2017; his ten-year term at AfDB comes to an end in September.
Husain remarked, “President Adesina embodies the values and vision of Dr. Norman Borlaug—transforming bold ideas into tangible impact.” “He is a remarkable addition to our Council of Advisors because of his lifetime dedication to agricultural innovation, sustainability, and economic growth throughout Africa. We are delighted to have him return to the Foundation in this new capacity.
In order to steer the Foundation’s purpose and further Borlaug’s goal of a world free from hunger, the Council of Advisors is composed of eminent international leaders, including ministers, scientists, policymakers, and past heads of state.
Adesina responded with gratitude, saying: “I am incredibly honored to be a part of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Council of Advisors. In addition to being my mentor, Dr. Norman Borlaug was a personal inspiration whose dedication to eradicating hunger influenced my own path. I take his legacy with me as a Laureate, and I’m 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 greatly increased food production, addressed corruption in Nigeria’s fertilizer distribution system, and increased financing availability for millions of smallholder farmers.
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Prior to his 2015 appointment to the AfDB, when he became the first Nigerian to occupy the role, Adesina was Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015.
Additionally, he has important positions with AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and the Rockefeller Foundation.
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.
Under his leadership, the bank’s capital increased from $93 billion to $318 billion, allowing for historic investments in food systems, infrastructure, and youth entrepreneurship.
According to Tom Vilsack, CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation, “Dr. Adesina has long been a trailblazer in global agriculture and economic development.” “African agriculture has undergone a transformation under his leadership, from combating corruption to empowering farmers and promoting sustainable growth.”
Adesina is a Purdue University Ph.D. holder in Agricultural Economics. After serving as AfDB president until September, he is anticipated to take up his new position on the Council.
The World Food Prize was established by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug to recognize those who have made a substantial contribution to the availability, quality, or quantity of food worldwide.
The award, 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.
