The University of The Gambia has honoured former President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, by renaming its School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences after him.
The decision, according to a statement obtained by PUNCH Online on Wednesday, recognises Adesina’s contributions to agricultural transformation, food security, and development across Africa.
President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, unveiled a plaque renaming the faculty as the Dr Akinwumi Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, describing the move as a tribute to Adesina’s visionary leadership and lasting impact on the continent.
Adesina served as AfDB President from 2015 to 2025, during which he spearheaded the Bank’s High 5s agenda—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialise Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life of Africans.
According to AfDB data, the initiatives impacted more than 535 million people across the continent.
Under his leadership, the Bank’s capital base grew from $93bn to $318bn, the highest in its history, while also earning global recognition as the world’s most transparent financial institution and the best multilateral development bank, and retaining its AAA credit rating.
A major pillar of Adesina’s legacy is the Feed Africa Strategy, which improved agricultural production and food security for over 104 million people in Africa.
In The Gambia, the AfDB funded a landmark bridge linking the country with Senegal, a long-standing national aspiration that significantly reduced travel time and boosted trade and regional integration.
The university said the decision to rename the faculty was communicated in a letter dated November 27, 2025, signed by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof Pierre Gomez.
Gomez said Adesina’s tenure at the AfDB was transformative, noting that his leadership drove economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable development across the continent.
The university also acknowledged Adesina’s earlier reforms as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, saying they laid a strong foundation for modernising the sector and expanding food production.
In his reaction, Adesina described the honour as deeply humbling, thanking President Barrow, the Gambian government, and the university’s leadership.
He said he looked forward to visiting The Gambia to witness what he described as a “monumental development” that would remain a lasting memory.
In 2023, Barrow conferred on Adesina The Gambia’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, in recognition of his contributions to the country and Africa.
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