PERSONALITY
Akinwumi
Adesina
Spearheading Good Governance by Leading Agricultural
Innovation and Economic Growth of Africa
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Laureate Announcement was made in Cape Town, South Africa, on
Thursday November 22nd 2018, at 5:00 PM at the Cape Town International
Convention Center.
Akinwumi A. Adesina: President of the African Development Bank,
committed to the eradication of poverty through agricultural innovation,
and promoting Good Governance through the works of developing Africa’s
economy.
A
s an agricultural economist, Dr.
Akinwumi Adesina has been a
leader in agricultural innovation
for over 30 years. He has contributed
greatly to food security in Africa,
aimed at improving the lives of millions
currently living in poverty, throughout
the African continent.
The Sunhak Committee acknowledges
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s achievements
in promoting Good Governance of
Africa, which boosts Africa’s capacity
to feed itself and transform its total
economies for generating wealth for
millions of rural and poor African farmers.
At the Cape Town International
Convention Center, the Sunhak Peace
Prize Committee announced that the
2019 Laureates for the Sunhak Peace
Prize would be Waris Dirie, 58 year-old
world-class supermodel and anti-FGM
activist, and Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji
Adesina, 53 year-old president of the
African Development Bank Group.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has been a
leader in agricultural innovation in
Africa for over 30 years, bringing great
improvement to Africa’s food security.
Contributing to Africa’s dynamic growth.
His leadership is building stepping-
stones for Africa’s dynamic growth.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina pioneered major
transformations in the agricultural field,
including expanding rice production by
introducing high yielding technologies,
designing and implementing policies
to support farmers’ access to
technologies at scale, increasing the
availability of credit for millions of
smallholder farmers, attracting private
investments for the agricultural sector,
rooting out the corrupt elements in
the fertilizer industry, and assisting
in establishment of major agricultural
policies for Africa’s green revolution.
The “Africa Fertilizer Summit,” which he
organized in 2006, was one of the largest
high-level meetings in Africa’s history
that had a focus on solving Africa’s food
issues. During this Summit, Dr. Adesina
was instrumental in developing the
“Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the
African Green Revolution,” whereby the
participants stated their commitment to the
“eradication of hunger in Africa, by 2030.”
Dr. Adesina worked with various banks
and international NGOs in order to
create an innovative financing system,
providing loans to small farmers,
providing a way for them to rise out
of poverty. This move leveraged
$100 million in loans and provided
opportunities for small farmers to
increase their agricultural productivity,
and their income.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina currently
serves as the president of the African
Development Bank Group which plays
a central role in Africa’s development.
As an “economic commander” of
Africa, he promotes the “High 5
Strategy” that include: light up and
power Africa, feed Africa, industrialize
Africa, integrate Africa and improve the
quality of life for the people of Africa.
As a result of his work, the lives of
millions of people throughout Africa
have been improved.
Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize
Committee, Dr. Il Sik Hong, stated
that “the Sunhak Peace Prize was
established based upon the vision
of “One Family Under God.” The
2019 Sunhak Peace Prize gives
special attention to peace and human
development in Africa.”
Dr. Hong added “in order for us to
build an era of peace and coexistence
in the 21st century, we want to
encourage continuous development
in Africa. Africa is a rising star and its
growth will contribute global progress and
development throughout the 21st century.”
The Sunhak Peace Prize honors
individuals and organizations who
have made significant contributions
to the peace and the welfare of the
future generations. The Sunhak Peace
Prize includes a cash prize totaling one
million dollars. The 2019 Sunhak Peace
Prize Award Ceremony will take place in
February, 2019 in Seoul, Korea
November - December 2018 | 11