Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, Akinwumi Adesina, has been
named the 2013 Forbes Africa Person of the
Year which celebrates the individual who has
had the most influence on events of the year
gone by.

The award ceremony took place yesterday, 2
December 2013, at the Villa Rosa Kempinski
Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Forbes Africa Person of the Year has,
since its inception two years ago, reportedly
attracted the highest calibre of nominees
from across the continent.
Says Chris Bishop, Forbes Africa's managing
editor: "It was an honour to present this
award in Kenya, for the first time, in the
month of the country's 50th birthday.
Akinwumi Adesina was considered a worthy
winner by the judges as he is a man on a
mission to help Africa feed itself. We hope
it will encourage the rest of the continent to
grow more of its own food. Also, last year, we
presented a Kenyan with the award in Nigeria
- this year it was the other way round, which
shows how much Forbes Africa is pan
African."
A Lifetime Achievement Award was also given
to Manu Chandaria, founder of East African
industry conglomerate, Comcraft Group of
Companies. "Through his establishment of the
East Africa Business Council, Chandaria has
been a driving force in the rollout of the
East African Community, which has provided
local corporations with wider avenues, thus
enabling their growth. With a combined GDP
of around $100 billion and a population of 140
million people, it is a huge step in the right
direction towards intra-African trade," said
Davlynne Lidbetter, general manager of
Forbes Africa, in her speech congratulating
Chandaria.
The other finalists for the Forbes Africa
Person of The Year 2013 were:
1. Aliko Dangote, founder and president,
Dangote Group
2. Patrice Motsepe, founder and
executive chairman of African Rainbow
Minerals
3. Strive Masiyiwa, founder of global
telecoms group, Econet Wireless
4. Jim Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank
Group
Following suggestions from the public, the top
five most voted for candidates were posted
online in a poll, which comprised a portion of
the Person of the Year judges' final
decision.

Sahara Reporters will soon say he bought the award.

walakolobo: Sahara Reporters will soon say he bought the award.

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