By Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-01-29 09:23:41
The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation is set to award Dr. Akinwumi Adesina with the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership. This award, which honors the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo, seeks to “recognise and celebrate excellence in leadership.”
According to the Foundation’s Executive Director, Ambassador Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Dr. Adesina was the unanimous choice of the Foundation’s Selection Committee. The committee described Adesina as possessing the highest degree of attributes for the award. These attributes are said to have characterised Chief Awolowo’s excellent leadership, including integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, selflessness, accountability, tenacity of purpose, visionary and people-centred leadership.
Notable figures such as former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, have all praised Adesina’s leadership qualities. Jonathan commended Adesina’s extraordinary leadership qualities, Blair highlighted his exceptional contributions to the African continent and global leadership, and Quinn saluted Adesina’s commitment to food security.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Global Center on Adaptation CEO Prof. Dr Patrick Verkooijen jointly expressed their support for Adesina, stating that they can think of no person more highly qualified or deserving of this prestigious award.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina will be the third recipient of the Award, following Nigerian writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and former South African President Thabo Mbeki. The award ceremony is scheduled for March 6, 2024, and will include a keynote lecture by the honouree.
The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, founded in 1992, is a non-profit non-partisan organisation dedicated to promoting and preserving the ideals and legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
