Nigerian named Forbes African of the Year

Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesina

Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina has been named Forbes African of the Year for his reforms to Nigeria's farming sector.

“A man on a mission to help Africa feed itself," as Chris Bishop, Forbes Africa editor put it, he was chosen ahead of some of Africa's most prominent men: Aliko Dangote and Jim Ovia, also from Nigeria; South Africa's Patrice Motsepe; and Zimbabwe's Strive Masiyiwa.

Prior to this time, the Nigerian economy had been largely dominated by Oil ignoring Agriculture, even though it supports far more people.

Mr Adesina said he wanted to help people become rich through farming.

"My goal is to make as many millionaires, maybe even billionaires, from agriculture as possible," he said in his acceptance speech.

Mr Adesina’s era as Agriculture Minister has introduced more transparency into the supply and distribution of fertiliser, which had previously been marred by massive corruption.

Kudos Mr Minister. I sincerely hope others will emulate you.

Culled from bbc.co.uk