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

“He is a man on a mission to help Africa feed itself,” said Forbes Africa editor Chris Bishop.
Adesina

Akinwumi Adesina

Analysts say Nigeria’s economy has long been dominated by oil, while agriculture has been ignored, 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.

Aliyu Tanko from BBC Hausa says Mr Adesina has introduced more transparency into the supply and distribution of fertiliser, which had previously been marred by massive corruption.

The minister has also urged Nigerians to grow more food crops, especially cassava.

In January, Mr Adesina announced a scheme to hand out 10 million mobile phones to farmers to “drive an agriculture revolution” so they can find out the latest market information.

The phones are also used to get vouchers for seeds and fertiliser.

However, our correspondent says this goal has not yet been achieved, noting there is no mobile network coverage in many rural areas.

The main opposition party criticised the scheme as a “mischievous vote-catching exercise”.

Mr Adesina was chosen ahead of some of Africa’s most prominent businesspeople: Aliko Dangote and Jim Ovia, also from Nigeria; South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe; and Zimbabwe’s Strive Masiyiwa.

Although their country is one of the world’s biggest oil exporters, most Nigerians live in poverty, especially in rural areas.

Mr Bishop said he hoped the award would “encourage the rest of the continent to grow more of its own food”.

BBC
http://businessdayonline.com/2013/12/nigeria-minister-of-agriculture-adesina-wins-forbes-african-man-of-the-year/

If there's one area this administration is doing well is in the area of appointments. GEJ has not failed to appoint credible people to fill sensitive positions in his administration.
The Minister dedicated the Award to President Jonathan.

Congratulations Mr. Adesina
Congratulations GEJ
Congratulations Nigeria

that man is a gentle scholar.

congrats to an icon and thank you for doing us proud.. Your recognition at the global scene speaks volumes of ur personality and commitment towards human and agro capital development. Congrats to Nigeria,it is well.

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Inspirational commendation like this shld be on FP...this man really deserve some applause...so that he can do far more...agricultural revolution is on going but need consistency and implementation devoid of Nigeria's usual politicking!