Page 17 - Legacy Gala 2018

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...Mr Adesina wants to

light Africa, industrialise

Africa and improve the

quality of life for all

people on the African

continent.

Mr Akinwumi Adesina
The author’s state: “With over 400 African spends $35 billion a year importing food and
Africa Development Bank’s President and Africa’s “Economic Commander In Chief”
companies earning annual revenues of US$1 this was set to rise to £10 billion a year by 2030.

billion or more, we can identify what works. The His abiding passion is to light up Africa and he’s
It’s current elected President and Chief Executive to drive inclusive growth – growth that will lift
highly successful businesses are often African investing $12 billion and intent on leveraging
is the dynamic Mr Akinwumi “Akin” Adesina. millions out of poverty. Africa can no longer be
companies, but many are entrepreneurial firms $45-$50 billion from the private sector to drive
Born in 1968 is mother and father were simple content with simply managing poverty. For our
with Western, Indian, or Chinese founders. forward rapid electrification across the Continent.
farmers in the Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria, future and the future of our children, we must
The most consistently profitable businesses Africa provides over 75% of the global production
where he attended a local village school. He eliminate it,”
demonstrate a higher tolerance for risk, are of cocoa, but sadly only accounts 2% of the
later attended the University of Ife where he
eager to adapt their products, production and hundred-million-dollar chocolate market across
became a student to be awarded a first-class Known as “ Mr Development”, Mr Adesina has
distribution for African consumers, and commit the world. Similar statistics apply to African
honours degree and later was to receive his PhD driven forward billions of dollars of investment
to investing and building their businesses for the cotton, coffee and groundnuts.
in Agricultural Economics from the US Indiana throughout the African continent and has been
long-term.”
State Purdue University. He later worked for acknowledged as a driving force for ethical
Mr Adesina wants to light Africa, industrialise
the Rockefeller Foundation, then became the governance, transparency and a “can-do”
Mr Adesina is a man on a mission: he has one Africa and improve the quality of life for all
Nigerian Agriculture Minister where he served approach. This year, a new book by McKinsey
simple and overriding goal and that is to invest in people on the African continent. If there was ever
from 2010 to 2015. In 2010 Ban Ki Moon, United “ How to Succeed In the World’s Next Biggest
agricultural growth, so the Continent can achieve a time to consider investing in Africa, if there was
Nations Secretary General appointed him as Growth Market” Harvard Business Review
one simple goal, and that is for Africa to feed ever a time to look to the African continent, now
one of a handful of global leaders appointed reports on interviews with 3000 of their clients,
itself. is that time. For we are witnessing the kind of
to drive forward the much-lauded Millennium supplemented by in-depth interviews with over
economic growth, previously confined to Western
Development Goals. 40 of Africa’s most prominent business and
With huge investment firepower, capital assets Europe, North America and Asia.
development leaders. The conclusion is that
and the support of African nations, Adesina
Since his appointment, he has focused on the Africa is set for the kind of explosive growth
is “Economic Commander in Chief’ on the Africa is rising and under the guidance of Africa’s
development of economic strategies relating to last seen during the Asian economic boom and
Continent and a breath of fresh air. His ambition “Economic Commander in Chief’ the future looks
“energy, agriculture, industrialization, regional provide a trillion-dollar investment opportunity to
is to see Africa’s agricultural sector write a bright.
integration and bettering Africans’ lives. In 2013 fully industrialise the African continent
valuation of $1 trillion by 2030. Africa today
he went on to say ““Our collective challenge is