AfDB president, Adesina awarded honourary PhD at FUT Minna

• Tasks graduating class on creating dynamic Nigeria
• ‘How I used technology to curb corruption in agric sector’

Federal University of Technology Minna has awarded President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, an honourary doctorate degree.

The honour was conferred at the institution’s 38th Founders’ Day and 30th Convocation in Minna, yesterday. He joined three other honourary doctoral awardees: former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; founder of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Malam Mele Kolo Kyari. 

Adesina used the occasion to acknowledge President Muhammadu Buhari, several former Heads of State, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the roles they played in his election as President of AfDB.

In an inspiring message to the graduating students, Adesina, a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, told the graduating class of 2021, that as the new success stories of Nigeria, they stand on the brink of opportunities, having been prepared for success by a university focused on technology.

He said: “Technology drives the world. As Minister of Agriculture, I turned to the power of technology, mobile phones, to provide 15 million farmers with access to improved seeds and fertilisers, end corruption in the sector. It was revolutionary – the first, not only in Africa, but also in the world. It helped Nigeria to produce a record additional 21 million metric tons of food. It boosted food security and expanded wealth for farmers, from the northeast, northwest, north central, southwest, east, and south-south of the country. It brought transparency and accountability in use of public funds.”