The University of The Gambia has renamed its School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in honor of the former president of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
The recognition is in appreciation of Adesina’s outstanding contributions to agriculture, food security, and economic development across Africa.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Victor Oladokun, and made available to journalists on Thursday in Lagos.
President Adama Barrow on Wednesday unveiled a plaque officially designating the faculty as the Dr. Akinwumi Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
Speaking at the ceremony, Barrow said the renaming symbolized The Gambia’s gratitude for Adesina’s “visionary leadership and enduring impact on Africa’s agricultural transformation.”
Adesina served as AfDB President from 2015 to 2025, a period marked by sweeping institutional reforms and major development initiatives across the continent.
Under his leadership, the Bank introduced the High 5s agenda—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialize Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life of Africans—which, according to AfDB data, positively affected over 535 million people.
During the same period, the bank’s capital base expanded from 93 billion dollars to 318 billion dollars, the largest in its history, while maintaining its AAA credit rating and earning multiple international accolades.
Adesina also championed the Feed Africa Strategy, which improved food security for more than 104 million people and boosted agricultural productivity continent-wide.
In The Gambia, the AfDB financed the Senegambia Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project that has eased movement between The Gambia and Senegal, enhanced trade, and strengthened regional integration.
The decision to rename the faculty was conveyed in a letter dated November 27, 2025, from the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez.
Gomez described Adesina’s tenure at the AfDB as transformative, noting that his leadership drove economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable development across Africa.
He added that initiatives such as the Feed Africa Strategy and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program had revolutionized agricultural productivity and food security.
The university said the honor was intended to inspire students to emulate Adesina’s vision, resilience, and commitment to Africa’s development.
In his response, Adesina thanked President Barrow for the recognition, describing it as a rare and deeply humbling honor.
“It is with great humility and profound gratitude that I appreciate the renaming of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in my honor,” he said.
It will be recalled that President Barrow, in 2023, conferred on Adesina The Gambia’s highest national honor—the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic—in recognition of his contributions to the country and the African continent.
