Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina

Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina stands as one of Africa’s most cerebral leaders and a reformer whose ideas, courage, and execution have redefined how the world now sees Africa’s potential. A globally respected development economist and agricultural expert with over three decades of experience, Adesina has consistently stood at the intersection of policy, innovation, and impact, turning bold vision into measurable progress for millions across the continent.

During his tenure as the 8th President of the African Development Bank Group, Adesina brought to the role, an extraordinary record of excellence and transformational leadership. Through his High 5s strategy, he helped improve the lives of over 335 million Africans, mobilized unprecedented capital for development, secured the largest capital increase in the Bank’s history, and led decisive financial responses during the COVID-19 crisis. His tenure has earned the Bank global recognition for transparency, effectiveness, and excellence, while cementing his reputation as Africa’s foremost development statesman.

As Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture from 2011 to 2015, Adesina engineered one of the most dramatic sectoral turnarounds in the nation’s history. He ended four decades of fertilizer corruption through a revolutionary electronic wallet system that directly empowered 15 million farmers, attracted $5.6 billion in private investment, boosted food production by 21 million metric tons, and repositioned the country’s agriculture value chain.

Just recently in February, he launched the Global Africa Investment Summit (GAIS), in Dubai. Co-founded by Dr. Adesina and Margery Kraus, Founder and Executive Chairman of APCO, the platform seeks to transform Africa’s economic landscape from aid dependency to investment-driven growth.

His international career was launched by the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, setting the stage for a lifetime devoted to Africa’s advancement - an enduring legacy that earned him AfriHeritage’s African Lifetime Achievement Award.