Outgoing President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has been appointed to the Council of Advisors at the World Food Prize Foundation.
The announcement came ahead of the end of his ten-year leadership at the AfDB, which wraps up in September 2025.
The Foundation made this known through a statement issued in New York.
The Council includes a team of top global figures such as former presidents, ministers, researchers, and development experts who help shape the Foundation’s push for a hunger-free world.
Adesina was previously honoured by the same Foundation in 2017 with the World Food Prize for his work in advancing agriculture and food security in Africa.
His new position will allow him to contribute more ideas and actions towards sustainable farming, especially in developing regions.
Over the years, Adesina has been known for pushing efforts that raised food output, improved transparency in Nigeria’s fertilizer sector, and widened credit access for small-scale farmers.
His experience includes roles at the Rockefeller Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. He also served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture between 2011 and 2015.
He became AfDB president in 2015, the first Nigerian to hold the role. During his term, the bank’s total capital rose sharply, allowing for more investment in infrastructure, youth businesses, and food systems.
He also led the bank’s major agenda tagged the “High 5s,” which focused on key areas like electricity, food production, and job creation.
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