Skip to main content

AfDB president, Adesina receives Obafemi Awolowo leadership prize

The committee described Adesina as possessing the attributes for the award to the highest degree.

The President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has been conferred with the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.

The Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Amb. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, said this in a statement in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Awolowo-Dosunmu said Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee. He said the committee described Adesina as possessing the attributes for the award to the highest degree.

He listed the attributes that have characterised Chief Awolowo’s excellent leadership, including integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, and visionary and people-centred leadership.

Awolowo-Dosunmu said that former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, was one of several world leaders who nominated Adesina. He quoted Jonathan as saying, “he epitomises and combines qualities of extraordinary leadership that are often rare.

“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.”

The former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair also praised Adesina’s leadership.

Blair said, “Adesina’s 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 stated.

Also speaking, Amb. Kenneth Quinn, the 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.

“He has uplifted smallholder farmers, the great majority of them women, providing critical financing for a broad array of infrastructure projects so critical to development and modernisation,” Quinn added.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Global Centre on Adaptation CEO Prof Patrick Verkooijen said no person was more highly qualified or deserving of the prestigious award than Adesina. According to them, Adesina is forged in the same mould as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a shining example of leadership.

Adesina is the third award recipient, following Nigerian writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and former South African President Thabo Mbeki. The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, founded in 1992, is a non-profit, non-partisan organisation.

An award is scheduled for March 6, 2024, including a keynote lecture by the honouree.

ridoola.blogspot.com.ng
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Okpebholo suspends A-G & LG Chair under 3 months over finance dealings

The Edo Government has announced the suspension of Samson Osagie , its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Damian Lawani , chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. Mr Musa Ikhilor , Secretary to the State Government (SSG) announced the suspension in a statement in Benin on Thursday morning. ALSO READ: Kano Govt suspend 2 school principals for alleged absenteeism, negligence Ikhilor said the two-state top officials were suspended over allegations of “grave official and financial interactions”. Okpebholo suspends Edo Attorney-General and LG Service Commission Chairman According to him, the suspension, which takes immediate effect, is pending the conclusion of an investigation into the allegations. The SSG said; It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that Gov. Monday Okpebholo has approved the suspension from office of the Chairman of Edo Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Os...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tinubu appoints MKO Abiola's son, Jamiu as SSA on Linguistics & Foreign Matters

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jamiu Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters. The appointee is one of the children of the late Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola , the winner of the 1993 presidential election annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida . According to a statement by Segun Imohiosen , the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Jamiu's appointment took effect from November 14, 2024. Imohiosen said the appointment aligns with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended. Until his recent deployment, the appointee served as the Special Assistant to the President of Special Duties in the office of the Vice President. Tinubu tasked Jamiu to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Protesters block East-West road in Rivers, demand action on poverty & hunger

The protesters chose to spotlight the East-west road in the expression of their anger over hunger, poverty and infrastructure deficit in the supposed viable business area. The ongoing nationwide protest, on Monday, spread to the Eleme/Onne section of the East/West Road of Rivers as a large crowd of protesters stormed the popular section connecting the Port Harcourt refineries. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Akpajo axis of the East-West Road, up to the entrance leading to Indorama Petrochemicals, was taken over by angry protesters, who disrupted free vehicular movements. The East-west road is a major route connecting Port Harcourt city to key business facilities, like the Onne seaport, Port Harcourt refineries, Indorama Petrochemicals and more than six Local Government Areas of the state. The protesters, who carried on their activities peacefully, displayed placards with inscriptions, expressing dissatisfaction over the pervasive poverty, hunger and high cost of ...
Post a Comment
Read more