While he is still serving out his second tenure at the African Development Bank (AfDB), another organization, the World Food Prize Foundation appoints Akinwunmi Adesina to its advisory council
By Udoka Ekeleme, Abuja
In a move that is receiving applause across the West African region, the World Food Prize Foundation has announced the appointment of the outgoing President of the African Development Bank(AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina to its council of advisors.
The President of the prestigious Foundation, Mashal Husain, announced Adesina’s appointment in a statement he signed on Wednesday, June 10, 2025.
Adesina will serve out his second term of 10 years’ tenure at AfDB in September this year. He was awarded the 2017 World Food Prize laureate.
In the statement 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.
It quoted the appointee to have said, “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 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 Minister of Agriculture 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 to be elected to the exalted position, 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, Adesina was named Forbes African Person of the Year.
