Forbes award: IITA alumni congratulate agric minister

In a statement, Dr Olumuyiwa Osiname, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2014 IITA alumni reunion, described the award as a well-deserved victory.“It demonstrates and supports the need for African governments to use technocrats in government for better results… I think this is the message,” Dr Osiname said.Dr Adesina was selected for his […]

In a statement, Dr Olumuyiwa Osiname, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the 2014 IITA alumni reunion, described the award as a well-deserved victory.
“It demonstrates and supports the need for African governments to use technocrats in government for better results… I think this is the message,” Dr Osiname said.
Dr Adesina was selected for his bold reforms in Nigeria’s agriculture sector. Other nominees included Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group; Chairman of Zenith Bank Group, Jim Ovia; Strive Masiyiwa, founder of the global telecoms group, Econet Wireless in Zimbabwe; and South African mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe.
The IITA alumni statement noted that Dr. Adesina’s reforms in the agricultural sector are empowering Nigerian farmers and have ended the protracted mess in the procurement of agricultural inputs, including fertilizers.
Dr Nteranya Sanginga, IITA’s director general and a former colleague of Dr Adesina, described the award as a victory for smallholder farmers and agriculture in Africa. “It shows that things are beginning to take shape in Africa,” Dr Sanginga said.