Hon. Akinwumi Adesina
President, African Development Bank Group
The 2017 World Food Prize Laureate, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has been at the forefront of galvanizing political will to transform African agriculture through initiatives to: expand agricultural production, thwart corruption in the Nigerian fertilizer industry and exponentially increase the availability of credit for smallholder farmers across the African continent.
In 2015, he was elected the President of the African Development Bank, the first Nigerian, serving 10 years and spearheading the “High 5” Agenda, which was to light up and power Africa, feed Africa, industrialize Africa, integrate Africa, and improve the quality of life for the people of Africa. During his tenure, he oversaw major funding initiatives for infrastructure, agriculture and youth entrepreneurship across the continent. In 2013, he was named the Forbes African Person of the Year.
Adesina has a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Purdue University and will finish his second and final term as President of the African Development Bank in September, when he will start in his role on the Council.