New York: The World Food Prize Foundation has announced the appointment of Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the outgoing president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to its Council of Advisors.
Its President, Mashal Husain, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York.
Adesina served his second-term 10-year tenure at AfDB in September and was a 2017 World Food Prize Laureate.
Husain said, “President Adesina embodies the values and vision of Dr Norman Borlaug- transforming bold ideas into tangible impact.
“His lifelong commitment to agricultural innovation, sustainability and economic development across Africa makes him an extraordinary addition to our Council of Advisors.
“We are honoured to welcome him back to the Foundation in this new role.”
The Council of Advisors, appointed by the foundation’s Board of Directors, includes former heads of State and Government, Ministers, and leaders in food and agricultural science, education, research, and policy.
They provide the board and staff with insights and advice on advancing the organisation’s mission and Dr Norman Borlaug’s vision for the World Food Prize Foundation.
The statement quoted Adesina as expressing profound honour to be appointed to the Council.
“I am deeply honoured to join the Council of Advisors of the World Food Prize Foundation.
“Dr Norman Borlaug was not only a mentor but a personal inspiration whose passion for ending hunger shaped my journey.
“As a Laureate, I carry his legacy with me, and I look forward to working with the Foundation to advance bold, science-driven solutions that uplift farmers, feed nations and transform our world,” Adesina was quoted as saying.
Adesina is an agriculture expert and a globally recognised Development Economist who received the 2017 World Food Prize for his more than two decades of leadership and progress.
He served with the Rockefeller Foundation as Vice President of policy and Partnerships at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
He also served as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nigeria from 2011 to 2015.
Adesina has been at the forefront of galvanising political will to transform African agriculture through several initiatives.
These initiatives helped expand agricultural production, thwart corruption in the Nigerian fertiliser 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 to serve 10 years and spearhead the “High 5” Agenda.
