Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group (AFDB), has been conferred the 2020 Leadership Person of the Year award by the Leadership Newspaper Group in Nigeria.
The newspaper noted that the award was given to the AfDB leader in recognition of his impeccable public service record and extraordinary accomplishments in driving the growth and development of the African Development Bank Group.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Azubuike Ishiekwene, senior vice president, Leadership Group Limited, said since Adesina ascended leadership of the AfDB in the past five years, conscious efforts have been made to re-dedicate the bank to its core philosophy,“Building Today a Better Africa Tomorrow.’
Ishiekwene further commended the Light Up Africa Project initiated by the African Development Bank, emphasising that the project has a 10-year plan to drastically reduce the number of Africans who lack access to electricity.
“Currently, 645 million people lack access to electricity in Africa and, so far, 18 million people have been provided with electricity in Morocco, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Egypt and other parts of the continent,”he said.
Presenting the award, Yemi Osinbajo, said Adesina and his co-awardees were deserving of the awards being presented, adding that to whom much is given, much is also expected.
Adesina, who was represented by Lamin Barrow, AfDB director general, Nigeria country department, said he was honoured to be conferred with the award alongside other awardees.
He described Leadership Newspaper as one of Nigeria’s most insightful newspapers and media organisations with a record of promoting good governance and accountable leadership for Nigerians.
“I take this moment to salute the great foresight, tenacity and doggedness of your founder, Sam Nda-Isaiah, who positioned Leadership Newspapers to what it is today. May his soul continue to rest in peace,” he added.
Other recipients in the category included Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Babagana Zulum, Borno State governor.
