“I am delighted to have been selected as recipient of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership,” Says African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina
The President, African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has expressed his delight over his selection as the recipient of the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
In his verified X handle on Sunday, (formerly Twitter) the Bank Chief said, “I am delighted to have been selected as recipient of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. Joining Nobel Prize laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, prior winners of the Prize, is such a great honor.”
Chairman, Selection Committee of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership and former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, had announced Dr. Adesina as the winner of this year’s Award at a press conference held in Gbagada Phase 2, Lagos State, on Thursday.
According to Chief Anyaoku, “After a careful, detailed and rigorous screening process, the Selection Committee was unanimous in deciding on the recipient of this year’s Prize. I have great pleasure to inform you that the considered view of the Selection Committee is that of all the nominees presented before it, the person adjudged to possess the attributes for the award to the highest degree and therefore is the recipient of the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership is Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, CON, President of the African Development Bank.”
The award which promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo, also “recognises and celebrates excellence in leadership.”
The Foundation’s Executive Director, Ambassador Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu said, “Dr Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee, which described Adesina as possessing the attributes for the award to the highest degree.”
According to Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu: “Dr Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee, which described Adesina as possessing the attributes for the award to the highest degree. The attributes considered to have characterised Chief Awolowo’s excellent leadership, include integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, visionary and people-centred leadership.”
The former Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was one of several world leaders who nominated Adesina. “He epitomises and combines qualities of extraordinary leadership that are often rare to find: great visionary, incredible courage, the ability to take on huge and difficult challenges, extraordinary dedication and commitment to deliver programmes and policies that transform the lives of millions of people,” Jonathan said.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: “[Adesina] epitomises and combines qualities of extraordinary leadership that are often rare to find.”
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair also praised Adesina’s leadership. “His contributions to the African continent and global leadership have been exceptional. Under his leadership the African Development Bank has delivered bold interventions to address some of the greatest challenges of our time,” he said.
Tony Blair: “Under his leadership the African Development Bank has delivered bold interventions to address some of the greatest challenges of our time”
Another globally renowned figure, Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, saluted Adesina’s commitment to food security: “President Adesina has traversed the African continent evangelising his profound vision to end childhood stunting through enhanced nutrition; uplifting smallholder farmers, the great majority of them women; providing critical financing for a broad array of infrastructure projects so critical to development and modernisation.”
Kenneth Quinn: “President Adesina has traversed the African continent evangelising his profound vision to end childhood stunting through enhanced nutrition.”
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Global Center on Adaptation CEO Prof. Dr Patrick Verkooijen, jointly said, “We can think of no person more highly qualified or deserving of this prestigious award. Dr Adesina is forged in the same mould as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a shining example of leadership.”
Ban Ki-moon and Patrick Verkooijen: “Dr Adesina is forged in the same mould as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a shining example of leadership.”
Dr Akinwumi Adesina is the third recipient of the Award. Others include Nigerian writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and the former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
An award ceremony is scheduled for 6 March 2024, and will include keynote lecture by the honouree.
The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, founded in 1992, is a non-profit non-partisan organisation.
