Akinwumi Adesina

[[File:Akinwumi Adesina - 2014.jpg|165px|thumb|right|Akinwumi at a meeting in 2014.]]
{{Economics}}
'''Akinwumi "Akin" Adesina''' {{lived|1960}} is a [[Nigeria|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 from Purdue University.<ref>https://www.usda.gov/oce/forum/past_speeches/2018/bios/Akinwumi_ADESINA.pdf</ref><ref>(2019-04-04). "[https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/organisational-structure/the-president/biography Biography: Akinwumi Adesina]". ''African Development Bank''. Retrieved 2020-01-15.</ref> 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 [[Charity|donated]] the entire $250,000 prize.<ref>[https://www.africanews.com/2017/06/27/afdb-president-akinwumi-adesina-wins-250000-world-food-prize/ AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina wins $250,000 World Food Prize] ''africanews''. 27 June 2017.</ref> 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==
[[File:Farm Ploughing, Kwara State, Nigeria.jpg|165px|thumb|left|About 30% of Nigerians work as farmers or farm laborers. Rural poverty remains a key issue.]]
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.<ref>[https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/laureates/2010__2017_laureates/2017__adesina/ 2017 : Adesina - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World] ''www.worldfoodprize.org''. Retrieved 2020-01-15.</ref>

==President of the African Development Bank==
Since 2015 Akinwumi has been president of the African Development Bank. His long-term goals include greater [[Free trade|economic integration]] of the continent and helping support new industrial and agricultural business endeavors while continuing to combat poverty.<ref>[https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2015/09/01/africa-can-no-longer-manage-poverty-we-must-eliminate-it-adesina/ Africa can no longer manage poverty, we must eliminate it – Adesina]</ref> 

==External links==
* [https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Generic-Documents/PRST_Akinwumi_A_Adesina_Biography_EN.pdf Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina: President: African Development Bank Group]

* [https://twitter.com/akin_adesina?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor His Twitter]

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adesina, Akinwumi}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African politicians]]
[[Category:Biologists]]
[[Category:Economists]]

Categories: Living people, African politicians, Biologists, Economists