He was bestowed the award because of his remarkable reforms in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Akinwunmi beat Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, Jim Ovia,
Chairman of the Zenith Bank Group, Strive Masiyiwa, founder of Global
Telecoms group and South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe.
Adesina’s initiatives in agriculture have empowered about six million farmers across Nigeria to embrace modern day agriculture.
He was described as a passionate defender of African farmers, relentless
in unlocking opportunities for farmers and changing Africa’s narrative
on agriculture to wealth creation, away from poverty reduction.
Adesina said he was happy to be honoured by Forbes. “I am truly honoured
and humbled by this prestigious award, which I dedicate to Africa’s
farmers and the new cadre of young business entrepreneurs who have
discovered the hidden gem for sustainable wealth creation on our
continent – Agriculture,” he said.
Akinwunmi Adesina: Honored by Forbes
Adesina’s impact in the agriculture sector within two years in office
turned agriculture away from being a development program into a business
activity generating wealth for millions of farmers.
The minister had stressed that Africa, with its huge potential, could not be ‘a museum of poverty.’
“My passion is using agricultural business and finance innovations to
turn Nigerian and African farmers and agribusinesses into millionaires
and billionaires. Nigeria must become a global powerhouse in
agriculture,” he stated.
His Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) ended four decades of
corruption in the fertilizer sector, eliminating the middlemen and
scaling up food production by nine million metric tonnes in the first
year -almost half of the 2015 production target.
To enhance the process, he introduced Electronic Wallet System which
allows small holder farmers to receive electronic vouchers for
subsidized seeds and fertilizers directly on their mobile phones and
enable them to pay for farm inputs from private sector agricultural
input dealers.
The system has reached over 6 million farmers and enhanced food security for 30 million persons in rural farm households.
Electronic Wallet System initiative have been lauded in many quarters
with several countries from Africa, Brazil, India and China now
expressing interest in emulating the electronic wallet system.
In recognition of Nigeria’s reforms and progress, global and domestic
investors have signed over $4 billion of executed letters of investments
to boost Nigeria’s agriculture.
The World Bank, African Development Bank and other global development
finance institutions have put up over USD 2 billion in support of his
bold initiatives.
“Adesina has totally revolutionized agriculture into a business, and
banks and private investors are all moving to the agriculture sector. He
has made agriculture very exciting, turning it into Nigeria’s new oil”
said Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings.
Often referred to as ‘Africa’s leading development entrepreneur’, he was
appointed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon as one of the 17
global leaders, along with Bill Gates, to help the world to achieve the
Millennium Goals.
Bill Gates, who sits on the Eminent Persons Group that advises President
Goodluck Jonathan on Nigeria’s agriculture, called Adesina’s policies
and reforms of agriculture “extraordinary”.
Sharing his vision for a food secured continent, Adesina said he dreams
of a future where Africa’s vast savannas are revived with crops, where
large commercial and smallholder farmers co-exist and both prosper.
Where rail, road and port systems are improved.
The minister for Agriculture attributed the huge achievements his
ministry has made to the immense support of Nigeria’s President, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan. Source
World Cup Draw: FIFA puts Nigeria in pot 2, raises prize money
FIFA
yesterday announced the following pots to be used for Friday’s draw for
next year’s World Cup finals when the 32 teams will be placed into
eight first-round groups of four.
Pot 1 consists of the eight top seeds, one of each to be drawn in Groups A-H. The remaining pots are based on geographical criteria.
Hosts Brazil will be allocated position A1 in the draw and will play the opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12.
Pot 1 (top eight seeds): Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay
Pot 2: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador
Pot 3: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras
Pot 4: Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, France
Note: A pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2. That European team will then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
The four South American seeds: Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina will form a temporary Pot X. The three teams not drawn against the European team in Pot 2 will return to the main draw.
FIFA also confirmed at least a 33 percent increase on the amount of prize money available in 2014 over the totals from 2010, when $420 million was up for grabs.
FIFA’s Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke confirmed that at least 33% inc in total prize money for Brazil 2014 World Cup compared to SA 2010’s $420 million
Pot 1 consists of the eight top seeds, one of each to be drawn in Groups A-H. The remaining pots are based on geographical criteria.
Hosts Brazil will be allocated position A1 in the draw and will play the opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12.
BRAZIL,
Costa do Sauipe : Fifa president Joseph Blatter gestures during a press
conference in Costa do Sauipe, state of Bahia, Brazil on December 3,
2013. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil final draw will take place December
6. AFP PHOTO
Pot 2: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador
Pot 3: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras
Pot 4: Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, France
Note: A pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2. That European team will then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
The four South American seeds: Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina will form a temporary Pot X. The three teams not drawn against the European team in Pot 2 will return to the main draw.
FIFA also confirmed at least a 33 percent increase on the amount of prize money available in 2014 over the totals from 2010, when $420 million was up for grabs.
FIFA’s Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke confirmed that at least 33% inc in total prize money for Brazil 2014 World Cup compared to SA 2010’s $420 million
World Cup Draw: FIFA puts Nigeria in pot 2, raises prize money
FIFA
yesterday announced the following pots to be used for Friday’s draw for
next year’s World Cup finals when the 32 teams will be placed into
eight first-round groups of four.
Pot 1 consists of the eight top seeds, one of each to be drawn in Groups A-H. The remaining pots are based on geographical criteria.
Hosts Brazil will be allocated position A1 in the draw and will play the opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12.
Pot 1 (top eight seeds): Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay
Pot 2: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador
Pot 3: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras
Pot 4: Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, France
Note: A pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2. That European team will then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
The four South American seeds: Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina will form a temporary Pot X. The three teams not drawn against the European team in Pot 2 will return to the main draw.
FIFA also confirmed at least a 33 percent increase on the amount of prize money available in 2014 over the totals from 2010, when $420 million was up for grabs.
FIFA’s Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke confirmed that at least 33% inc in total prize money for Brazil 2014 World Cup compared to SA 2010’s $420 million
Pot 1 consists of the eight top seeds, one of each to be drawn in Groups A-H. The remaining pots are based on geographical criteria.
Hosts Brazil will be allocated position A1 in the draw and will play the opening match in Sao Paulo on June 12.
BRAZIL,
Costa do Sauipe : Fifa president Joseph Blatter gestures during a press
conference in Costa do Sauipe, state of Bahia, Brazil on December 3,
2013. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil final draw will take place December
6. AFP PHOTO
Pot 2: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador
Pot 3: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras
Pot 4: Bosnia, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, France
Note: A pre-draw will be held to move one of the nine European teams into Pot 2. That European team will then be drawn against one of the four seeded South American teams to preserve the geographical balance of the draw.
The four South American seeds: Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina will form a temporary Pot X. The three teams not drawn against the European team in Pot 2 will return to the main draw.
FIFA also confirmed at least a 33 percent increase on the amount of prize money available in 2014 over the totals from 2010, when $420 million was up for grabs.
FIFA’s Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke confirmed that at least 33% inc in total prize money for Brazil 2014 World Cup compared to SA 2010’s $420 million
No comments:
Post a Comment