Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), has been named the first-ever recipient of the prestigious "African of the Decade" award.

The accolade was presented at the Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco, celebrating Adesina's transformative contributions to Africa’s development over the past ten years, AfDB said in a statement last week.

The award, introduced by the ABN Group in collaboration with CNBC Africa as part of the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards, recognises exceptional leaders whose efforts have had a lasting impact on the continent. Adesina, set to conclude his decade-long tenure at AfDB in 2025, was praised for his visionary leadership and initiatives that have improved the lives of millions.

Presenting the award, ABN Group Chairman Rakesh Wahi lauded Adesina’s “ethical and responsible leadership” and his innovative solutions to Africa’s socio-economic challenges, particularly through the AfDB’s High5 strategic priorities.

The awards committee highlighted Adesina’s innovative collaborations, including leading the African Development Bank in a groundbreaking partnership with the World Bank to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans.

Adesina’s legacy includes his tenure as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, where he transformed the country's agro-industrial value chains and eradicated decades of corruption in the fertilizer sector with an electronic wallet system to deliver farm inputs directly to smallholder farmers.

Since assuming leadership at AfDB in 2015, the World Food Prize laureate has been instrumental in attracting global investment and advancing sustainable development strategies.

He dedicated the award to the people of Africa. “This recognition is a testament to the transformative power of Africa’s potential. God did not make a mistake when He made me an African, and I will do all I can, to my final breath, for Africa,” Adesina said.

BUSINESS REPORT