Akinwumi Adesina



Akinwumi "Akin" Adesina is a Nigerian agricultural economist and current President of the African Development Bank. He was born to poor farmers in rural Nigeria and began to pursue a career in economic development from a young age, focusing on combating poverty. He graduated in agricultural economics from the University of Ife, Nigeria, and has a PhD in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. In 2017 he won the World Food Prize for his work which "expanded Nigeria’s food production by 21 million metric tons" as well as giving greater access to cell phones, vastly improving the fertilizer supply chain, and attracting billions in private foreign investment. He donated the entire $250,000 prize. A devout Christian, he met his wife, Grace, at a Church group. They and another couple started a charitable organization called the African Student Fellowship.

Minister of Agriculture
As Minister of Agriculture (2010–2015) and Vice-President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Akinwumi helped dramatically increase access to both credit and foreign investment for small farmers in Nigeria working through domestic bureaucratic channels, other governments, and a number of international NGOs. His polices spearheaded a successful campaign to root out corruption in Nigeria's fertilizer industry which helped cut out unnecessary middlemen. Additionally he also worked to ensure farmers had better access to modern farm inputs including new hybrid seeds, mobile phones, and mechanized equipment to increase national food security.

President of the African Development Bank
Since 2015 Akinwumi has been president of the African Development Bank. His long-term goals include greater economic integration of the continent and helping support new industrial and agricultural business endeavors while continuing to combat poverty.