AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina has been awarded the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

The executive director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, announced this in a statement.

The award promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader, Obafemi Awolowo.

Mr Awolowo-Dosunmu said Mr Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee. He said the committee described Adesina as possessing the attributes for the award to the highest degree.

Mr Awolowo-Dosunmu listed the attributes that have characterised Chief Awolowo’s excellent leadership, including integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, and visionary and people-centred leadership.

Mr Awolowo-Dosunmu also noted that former President Goodluck Jonathan was one of several world leaders who nominated Adesina.

He quoted Mr Jonathan as saying, “He epitomises and combines qualities of extraordinary leadership that are often rare. Great visionary, incredible courage, the ability to take on huge and difficult challenges, extraordinary dedication and commitment to deliver programmes and policies that transform the lives of millions of people.”

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also praised Adesina’s leadership.

Mr Blair said, “Adesina’s contributions to the African continent and global leadership have been exceptional. Under his leadership, the African Development Bank has delivered bold interventions to address some of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Kenneth Quinn, the president emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, saluted Adesina’s commitment to food security.

“President Adesina has traversed the African continent, evangelising his profound vision to end childhood stunting through enhanced nutrition. He has uplifted smallholder farmers, the great majority of them women, providing critical financing for a broad array of infrastructure projects so critical to development and modernisation,” Mr Quinn said.

Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and Global Centre on Adaptation CEO Patrick Verkooijen said no person was more highly qualified or deserving of the prestigious award than Mr Adesina.

Mr Adesina is the third award recipient, following Nigerian writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, founded in 1992, is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation.

An award is scheduled for March 6, 2024, including a keynote lecture by the honouree. 

(NAN)