Africa: Nigerian Agricultural Economist Bags Prestigious Award
By Peter Omondi
Florida, USA –-- Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a distinguished Nigerian agricultural economist, has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Borlaug CAST Communications Award for his outstanding leadership in agricultural development and his bold communication that is influencing policies in support of the smallholder African farmer.
The CAST Borlaug Award, established in 1986 and recently re-named to honour Dr Norman Borlaug, by the Council for Science and Technology (CAST) in the United States, honours global excellence in science and communications. Previous winners include Pedro Sanchez of Columbia University’s Earth Institute and Per Pinstrup-Andersen, former director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
“I am deeply honoured by this Borlaug CAST award. But I am also incredibly humbled because it puts an even greater weight on my shoulders to advocate for what I believe in and that is to end poverty and hunger from where I come from – Africa, “ said Dr. Adesina. “For me, it is a mission to ensure all Africans have access to better food and nutrition. Farmers in particular have waited way too long for their lives to improve. In my lifetime, I have seen far too many thousands of farmers who are locked in the vicious trap of poverty. To achieve the MDG goals in Africa we must accelerate a green revolution in Africa. When we improve the lives and livelihoods of African farmers, all Africans will benefit. I refuse to believe that poverty must be Africa’s national endowment.”
The first African to win the award since its inception in 1986, Dr. Adesina is a world class scholar who has greatly shaped policies through his informed speeches, published papers and leadership at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, (AGRA), where he is the Vice President, Policy and Partnership programme.
Adesina takes his passionate message to the highest corridors of power around the world. At AGRA, he leads efforts assisting African governments to develop policies for stimulating pro-poor agricultural growth, as well as developing strategic partnerships with African governments, donors, farmer organizations and the private sector to create better opportunities for smallholder farmers. His most notable achievement was designing the landmark Africa Fertilizer Summit in 2006 at which over 40 heads of state and governments committed to bold initiatives to improve the supply, demand an environmentally efficient use of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
It’s indeed in recognition of his immense contributions to agriculture that Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, recently appointed him one of the 17 world leaders who will collectively seek to galvanize worldwide support towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs) by their target date of 2015. One of four African members in this high-profile MDG Advocacy Group, he will focus his advocacy efforts on the first Millennium Development Goal of halving world hunger.
Adesina has over 20 years experience in African agriculture. He holds a BSc in Agricultural Economics (First Class Honours) from the University of Ife, Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He received his master's degree in 1985 and doctorate in 1988 in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, where he won the Outstanding PhD Thesis award.
A prolific writer, Adesina has published extensively in international journals and books. He is currently President, African Association of Agricultural Economists.
“AGRA is delighted to have one of their own receive this prestigious award”, said Dr. Namanga Ngongi, President of AGRA. “His solid understanding of the challenges facing farmers, ability to build alliances and coalitions and palpable drive to work for the benefit of African farmers will continue to help AGRA as we push forward a transformative agenda in support of the African green revolution”.