World Food Prize Foundation Welcomes 2017 Laureate and AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina to Council of Advisors. The World Food Prize Foundation has appointed Akinwumi Adesina, 2017 Laureate and current President of the African Development Bank, to its Council of Advisors.
The World Food Prize Foundation has appointed Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, 2017 Laureate and President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to its Council of Advisors. A globally recognized development economist and agriculture advocate, Adesina will join the council following the completion of his second and final term at AfDB in September.
“President Adesina embodies the values and vision of Dr. Norman Borlaug—transforming bold ideas into tangible impact,” said Mashal Husain, President of the World Food Prize Foundation. “His lifelong commitment to agricultural innovation, sustainability and economic development across Africa makes him an extraordinary addition to our Council. We are honored to welcome him back in this new role.”
Adesina received the 2017 World Food Prize for his leadership in expanding agricultural productivity, fighting corruption in Nigeria’s fertilizer sector, and unlocking credit access for millions of smallholder farmers. His previous roles include leadership at the Rockefeller Foundation, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture.
“I am deeply honored to join the Council of Advisors,” Adesina said. “Dr. Borlaug was not only a mentor, but a personal inspiration. I look forward to supporting the Foundation’s mission to drive science-based solutions that uplift farmers and feed nations.”
As AfDB President since 2015, Adesina has championed the bank’s “High 5” agenda to power, feed, industrialize, integrate, and improve the quality of life in Africa. His tenure has been marked by ambitious development initiatives across infrastructure, agriculture, and youth entrepreneurship. In 2013, he was named Forbes African Person of the Year.
The Council of Advisors includes former heads of state, ministers, and leaders in agricultural science, education, and policy. Members offer strategic insight to advance the Foundation’s mission and uphold Dr. Borlaug’s legacy in the fight against hunger.
