Adesina, Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Named Forbes African Person of the Year

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has been named Forbes African Person of the Year. Adesina was bestowed with the prestigious award for his leadership and remarkable reforms in the country’s agricultural sector. Adesina beat billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote; Chairman of Zenith Bank Group, Jim Ovia; founder of Global Telecoms group, Strive Masiyiwa, and South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe to win the award. The initiatives introduced into Nigeria’s agricultural sector under his leadership has ensured the adoption of good agricultural practices, which has empowered about six million farmers across the country. Adesina expressed his happiness at being recognised for his efforts, noting that it was a great honour to be so awarded by Forbes. “I am truly honoured and humbled by this prestigious award, which I dedicate to Africa’s farmers and the new cadre of young business entrepreneurs who have discovered the hidden gem for sustainable wealth creation on our continent – Agriculture,” he said. His handling of Nigeria’s agricultural sector has brought about a business-like approach to the industry, which has consequently revolutionised the sector to be a development program. “My passion is using agricultural business and finance innovations to turn Nigerian and African farmers and agribusinesses into millionaires and billionaires. Nigeria must become a global powerhouse in agriculture,” he stated. “Adesina has totally revolutionized agriculture into a business, and banks and private investors are all moving to the agriculture sector. He has made agriculture very exciting, turning it into Nigeria’s new oil” said Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings.