President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday said Nigeria remains proud of its former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for winning the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate.
Adesina, who is the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), will today be presented the $250,000 prize and Laureate sculpture at a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol, United States.
In a video message, the President commended Adesina for making the nation proud, adding that Adesina got the prize through hard work.
“I received with delight the cheery news of your award as 2017 World Food Prize Laureate. Certainly this did not come to me and many Nigerians as a surprise, given your antecedents and contributions to the development of agriculture across the African continent.
“We are very proud of you.
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“According to the World Food Prize Foundation, you won the prize for driving change in African agriculture for over 25 years and improving food security for millions across the continent. Your choice as the winner of the World Food Prize is a clear recognition and appreciation of your long standing contributions, reflected in your several roles and activities which promote social economic development.
“By dint of hard work, persistence, diligent efforts and God’s sufficient grace, you have risen above many limitations to emerge as a notable figure and a true champion. Your life story mirrors the resilience of the African spirit and doggedness for which Nigerians are well known.
“On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I congratulate you and rejoice with you, your family and the AfDB family on this well-deserved honour.
The World Food Prize is conferred on the Laureates in appreciation of their achievement in advancement of human development through improved food quality, quantity, or availability.
Adesina had initiated strong programs which transformed agriculture into viable business while serving in Nigeria as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under the previous administration.
His achievements also culminated in his election as the President of the Africa Development Bank
By the Conferment, Adesina becomes the first Nigerian to win the award since it was first conferred on M S Swanminathan, an Indian national, in 1987.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Turkey’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace, in continuation of his current state visit to Turkey
Accompanied by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Turkey, Iliyasu Paragalda and other senior government officials, President Buhari laid the wreath in red and white colours of the Turkish flag at the tomb of Ataturk and later observed a minute silence.
Afterwards, the President signed the official Anitkabir memorial Book of Honour at the Misaki-i Milli Kulesi (National Pact Tower), within the precincts of the mausoleum, and toured the museum.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President noted that “It is an honour and privilege to visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of a great patriotic, visionary and courageous leader who shaped modern Turkey, during my official working visit to Ankara and the ninth D-8 summit in Istanbul.
“I pay my profound respect to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey and the first President from 1923 until his death in 1938.
‘‘I am pleased with the friendly relations between Turkey and Nigeria, which has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. I look forward to a more fruitful cooperation between our governments and people in areas of mutual concern and interests, for the benefit of our people.’’
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
