BY GODWIN OBI
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, on Wednesday, emphasised the importance of technology, recalling its deployment during his tenure as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister.
Adesina served as Minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011-2015. Shortly after, he emerged as the first Nigerian to become AfDB President, a position he currently occupies.
Speaking during the Conferment of Honorary Doctorate of Technology by the Federal University of Technology Minna, the AfDB President said he turned the power of technology in Nigeria’s Agricultural sector.
AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina speaks during a convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State on February 2, 2022.
According to him, he enabled 15 million farmers to have access to improved seeds and fertilisers and to end corruption in the agricultural sector using their mobile phones.
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“It was revolutionary; the first not only in Africa but actually it was the first in the world. It helped to produce in Nigeria a record additional 21 million metric tonnes of food. It boosted food security and expanded wealth for farmers,” he said.
“Rural wealth expanded from the North-East across the North-Central to the North-West, from the South-West, South-East and the South-South of the country.
“It brought accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. It changed the lives of farmers including Hajia Ladi Balade, a female farmer in Zamfara’s Bakalori irrigation project who was growing just two hectares of rice,” Adesina stated.
“I went to her farm. With the technology
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