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The President of the African Development Bank, (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has been awarded the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award.
The event which held yesterday in Lagos, was graced by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan and President Bola Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The serving governors at the event are governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Alex Otti (Abia), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Usman Ododo (Kogi), and Mohammed Bago (Niger), amongst others.
Speaking about the event, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Retd.) described Adesina as a brilliant man, who “represents the best of Nigeria.”
President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, chaired the event put together by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, led by Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu.
Recorded goodwill messages also poured in from former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida; former United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon; current Deputy Secretary General of United Nation,
Amina Mohammed; current President, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva, a former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and a host of other international figures.
At the event, Adesina, the latest Awo laureate, called for a paradigm shift in nation building through restructuring that won’t be political.
President Tinubu, in his speech, assured Nigerians that the challenges facing the country, would soon be surmounted.
Chairman, Selection Committee of Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, while giving an opening remark, provided an insight into how winners are chosen.
Executive Director of Awo Foundation, Dr. Mrs Dosunmu, in her welcome address said Ban Ki-Moon and Verkooijen jointly affirmed Adesina as a worthy honoree for the award.
Dr Adesina joins the pantheon of other previous winners of the award such as Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, and lawyer-educationist, Chief Afe Babalola.
