Dr Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, The Africa’s Optimist.
His passion for African transformation has not only been on the tip of his tongue but in every action. This vision of transformation has earned him praise across the continent.
The former Nigeria Agricultural Minister and Rural Development who was first elected President of the African Development Bank Group in May 28, 2015 and was unanimously re-elected for a second five year term in August, 2020, transformed the agriculture sector of Nigeria in four years. During his tenure, Nigeria successfully put paid perennial corruption in the fertilizer sector by innovating electronic wallet system that enabled farmers to have direct access to subsidized farm inputs at scale with the use of their phones. Approximately 15 million farmers were reached through the electronic wallet system which drastically transformed their lives.
No wonder, a team of IMF from Venezuela that visited Nigeria to inquire how Nigeria was not affected by global food crises was left with no choice, but to congratulate Nigeria for judicious resource management that helped circumvent the crises while other greater countries were affected. Despite the depreciation of Naira and the falling oil price there was no notable increase in the price of food, goods and services in the country, 21 million metric tonnes of food was were gathered in addition to Nigeria domestic food supply. On account of this, the bill of food import reduced from N3.1 trillion between 2011 to 2014 to N35 billion according to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics.
The bilingual Pan African Agricultural Economist is not one of the Africans who easily forgets their antecedents. Having been a victim of poverty, is among the few with a sincere detestation for poverty and pure passion for its eradication. He perfectly understands the only way to do it right for any one from any background without lobbying to be reached. This has always driven him to firmly stick to the policy of fairness, rule of law and accountability in every position he operated and still operates, as many that are poor, their poverty is traceable to injustice especially in a country and continent like his.
Like day and night are no friends, Dr. Akinwumi A Adesina in many ways has not only spoken against corruption but also acted against it. On many occasions, he openly challenged importers to come forward if he took bribe from any at public hearing. Today, every problem facing Nigeria needs leaders and leadership of qualities wrapped in one man, Dr Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina who in every capacity has demonstrated his ability to deliver and wage war against corruption.
