BY OUR FOREIGN DESK
HE HAS spent a decade pouring billions into the soil of Africa, and now Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina has seen his name etched into the very earth he helped transform.
In a move that cements his status as a continental titan, the Republic of The Gambia has officially renamed the University of Gambia’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in honour of the outgoing African Development Bank (AfDB) President.
President Adama Barrow personally unveiled the plaque in Banjul, immortalising the man often dubbed Africa’s “Farmer-in-Chief” for his relentless drive to end hunger across the continent.
The tribute marks the end of a golden era for the AfDB under Adesina’s leadership from 2015 to 2025.
During his watch, the bank’s capital didn’t just grow—it exploded, rocketing from $93 billion to a staggering $318 billion.
But for the people on the ground, the numbers that matter are even bigger. His “High 5″ program—designed to light up, feed, and industrialise Africa—is credited with changing the lives of 535 million people.
”Your tenure has been transformative,” said Professor Pierre Gomez, Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education. “Your leadership has revolutionised productivity and empowered millions of smallholder farmers.”
In The Gambia, Adesina is more than just a banker; he’s the man who finally bridged the gap. Under his guidance, the AfDB financed the iconic bridge connecting The Gambia and Senegal—a dream held since the 1960s that has slashed travel times and sent regional trade soaring.
Adesina, who previously served as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, admitted he was “deeply humbled” by the gesture. In a letter to President Barrow, he described the renaming as a “rare honour” that would remain “evergreen” in his memory.
It isn’t the first time the Gambian government has rolled out the red carpet for the visionary. In 2023, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic—the nation’s highest possible honour.
Now, as his name goes up on the university walls, the next generation of African scientists will study under the banner of the man who proved that with enough vision—and a few hundred billion dollars—the continent can truly feed itself.
