Tribute to Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina

As he leaves his role as President of the African Development Bank Group, we pay tribute to Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, for his extraordinary contributions to African agriculture and to CGIAR.

A visionary leader and tireless advocate for smallholder farmers, Dr. Adesina has long championed the power of science, innovation, and partnerships to drive agricultural transformation. Through initiatives such as the Feed Africa strategy and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), his leadership at the African Development Bank has delivered tangible, lasting impact for millions of farmers and communities across the continent.

Dr. Adesina’s began his distinguished career at AfricaRice, a CGIAR research center, and has remained a steadfast supporter of CGIAR’s mission ever since. Under his leadership, the African Development Bank has played a crucial role as a member of the CGIAR System Council, helping to guide and shape the reform of CGIAR into a more integrated, efficient, and results-driven system. His voice and vision have ensured that Africa’s priorities are at the heart of global agricultural research.

We are deeply grateful for Dr. Adesina’s enduring support and his instrumental role in strengthening CGIAR’s relevance and reach. His legacy is one of bold leadership, strategic foresight, and an unwavering belief in the potential of African agriculture to feed not just a continent, but the world.