Adesina to Deliver Keynote Lecture at Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership

Ugo Aliogo

The President of African Development Bank (AFDB) Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, will deliver the keynote address at the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership on 6 March.

In a statement signed by the African Development Bank, it was noted that Obafemi Awolowo Foundation would award the AFDB President with the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership on the same day.

The statement said the prize which promotes the legacy and democratic ideals of the late Nigerian nationalist and federalist leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo, also recognises and celebrates excellence in leadership.

The statement also noted that established in 1992, the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation is a non-profit, and non-partisan organisation.

The statement further explained that the prize is a prestigious, and biennial, international prize structured to follow a rigorous process of nomination and subsequent screening by a selection committee consisting of some of the most outstanding Nigerians.

The statement hinted that the prize not only confers considerable honour and recognition on the recipient, but also serves as a strong incentive to persons to pursue excellence in leadership and good governance.

The statement remarked that in line with the relevant guidelines for the selection of candidates for the award, the call for nomination for this year’s edition of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership was published for several months in 2023, adding that at the close of nomination, many nominations were received.

The statement added that there is no doubt that many of these nominees are eminent persons who have made tremendous contributions in various spheres of life.

The statement said Adesina is the third recipient of the award, adding that others include Nigerian writer and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

According to the statement, “After a careful, detailed and rigorous screening process, the selection committee was unanimous in deciding on the recipient of this year’s Prize. I have great pleasure to inform you that the considered view of the Selection Committee is that of all the nominees presented before it, the person adjudged to possess the attributes for the award to the highest degree and therefore is the recipient of the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership is Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, CON, President of the African Development Bank.”