President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), for being honored with the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. The award ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
In a press statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu, the Nigerian leader commended Adesina for his visionary leadership and transformative efforts in agriculture across Africa. Tinubu recalled Adesina’s impactful initiatives in revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture value chains when he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
President Tinubu acknowledged Adesina’s unblemished records, tried-and-tested integrity, and his significant contributions to global agriculture, which earned him various accolades, including the World Food Prize in 2017. The statement highlighted Tinubu’s wish for Adesina’s continued success at the AfDB and strength in his service to Africa and humanity at large.
Akinwumi Adesina becomes the fourth Nigerian and the third recipient of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, following the footsteps of eminent personalities like Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, and renowned lawyer Afe Babalola.
