NEW YORK, USA — The World Food Prize Foundation has announced the appointment of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to its prestigious Council of Advisors.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, by the Foundation’s President, Mashal Husain, in a statement released in New York.
Adesina, who will complete his second and final five-year term as AfDB President in September, was awarded the World Food Prize in 2017 in recognition of his transformative work in African agriculture.
His new role marks a return to the organisation where his global contributions to food security were first formally recognised.
“President Adesina embodies the values and vision of Dr. Norman Borlaug—transforming bold ideas into tangible impact,” Husain said.
“His lifelong commitment to agricultural innovation, sustainability and economic development across Africa makes him an extraordinary addition to our Council of Advisors. We are honoured to welcome him back to the Foundation in this new role.”
The Council of Advisors is composed of prominent global leaders, including former heads of state, ministers, scientists, and policy experts.
Appointed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, the Council offers strategic guidance and insights to advance the organisation’s mission of ending global hunger and promoting agricultural sustainability.
In his response, Adesina expressed deep appreciation for the appointment, paying tribute to Dr. Borlaug, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning agronomist who founded the World Food Prize.
“I am deeply honoured to join the Council of Advisors of the World Food Prize Foundation,” Adesina said.
“Dr. Norman Borlaug was not only a mentor, but a personal inspiration whose passion for ending hunger shaped my own journey. As a Laureate, I carry his legacy with me, and I look forward to working with the Foundation to advance bold, science-driven solutions that uplift farmers, feed nations and transform our world.”
Adesina, an agricultural economist with a PhD from Purdue University, has held several influential positions throughout his career.
He previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015, where he implemented wide-reaching reforms, including eliminating corruption in fertiliser distribution and increasing access to credit for smallholder farmers.
Before that, he worked with the Rockefeller Foundation and later as Vice President of Policy and Partnerships at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
In 2015, he became the first Nigerian elected as President of the AfDB, where he led the implementation of the bank’s “High 5” development strategy: to light up and power Africa, feed Africa, industrialise Africa, integrate Africa, and improve the quality of life for Africans.
During his tenure, Adesina spearheaded major investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and youth entrepreneurship, earning accolades for his leadership.
In 2013, he was named Forbes African Person of the Year.
Welcoming the appointment, World Food Prize Foundation CEO Tom Vilsack said: “Dr. Adesina has long been a trailblazer in global agriculture and economic development. His leadership has reshaped the landscape of African agriculture, from fighting corruption to empowering farmers and fuelling sustainable growth.”
The World Food Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture,” was established by Dr. Borlaug in 1986 to honour individuals who have significantly advanced the quality, quantity, or availability of food worldwide.
Since its inception, the prize has been awarded to 55 laureates and is presented annually during the Borlaug Dialogue, a global conference on food security and hunger.
Adesina is expected to begin his advisory role after concluding his AfDB presidency in September.
