The World Food Prize Foundation has announced the appointment of the outgoing President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina to its council of advisors.

Its president, Mashal Husain, disclosed this in a statement.

Mr Adesina, who serves out his second-term 10-year tenure at AfDB in September, was a 2017 World Food Prize laureate.

Mr 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 honored to welcome him back to the Foundation in this new role.”

The council of advisors, appointed by the foundation’s board of directors, include former heads of state and government, ministers, and leaders in food and agricultural science, education, research and policy.

They provide the board and staffers with insights and advice on advancing the mission of the organisation and Dr Norman Borlaug’s vision for the World Food Prize Foundation.

The statement quoted Adesina as expressing deep 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 own 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,” Mr Adesina said.

Mr 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.

He also served as Nigeria’s agriculture minister from 2011 to 2015.

​​Mr Adesina has been at the forefront of galvanising political will to transform African agriculture through several initiatives.

These initiatives helped 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 AfDB president, the first Nigerian, serving 10 years and spearheading the ‘High 5- Agenda. The agenda was to light up and power Africa, feed Africa, industrialise 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 Forbes African Person of the Year.

(NAN)