Current and former African presidents, diplomats, and other notable personalities took turns on Wednesday to extol the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for bagging the coveted 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
African leaders, including the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan; the Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde; the Prime Minister of Togo, Victoire Tomegah Dogbé; and President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, applauded Adesina’s sterling pan-Africanism.
Persecondnews reports that Adesina joins the pantheon of other previous winners of the award, such as Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki and legal luminary and educationist, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
The President of the Union of the Comoros and the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani, described Adesina as a pragmatist, an innovator, and a visionary whose leadership has given the AfDB a facelift.
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“Dr. Adesina has an incredible ability to bring leaders together to dedicate and commit themselves to initiatives that transform Africa on a daily basis,” he said.
Also, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), said the former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture represents the best of Nigeria, while praising his sterling attributes of hard work, diligence, and intimidating academic and professional credentials, amongst others.
He said: “The choice of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina can only be described as having been very well done. He represents the best of Nigeria, hardworking, diligent, brilliant, forward-looking, and deeply patriotic.”
On his part, elder statesman and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, commended the choice of Adesina as the fourth recipient of the prestigious award, which was started in the honour of the late sage, Awolowo.
Anyaoku saluted Adesina’s “tremendous achievement” as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister from 2011 to 2015 and her “even more spectacular performance as President of the African Development Bank.”
He said: “Out of the many reputable nominations received, members of the selection committee unanimously considered Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as having in his career to date, in large measure, the Chief Obafemi Awolowo attribute that I have sought to describe.
“Awolowo recognised the challenge of careful management of diversity in our pluralistic country and, as such, articulated his belief that true federalism is an essential condition for the peace and progress of Nigeria, and his pan-Africanism was well-represented in his writings and books.”
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, also described the awardee as “one of Africa’s finest visionary leaders, just like Awolowo,” saying there could not have been a more deserving person than the AfDB President.
In his remarks, Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde said the provision of innovative solutions characterised the AfDB President while applauding his vision for Africa’s emergence from its challenges.
Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan graced the event, while President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, rejoiced with the President of the AfDB on the award of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
He commended Dr. Adesina for his visionary and noble endeavour to transform agriculture in Africa and ensure food security on the continent, recalling the growth enhancement schemes revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture value chains he introduced.
Serving governors, including Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Alex Otti (Abia), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Usman Ododo (Kogi), and Mohammed Bago (Niger), were also present at the event.
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