Gambia renames University of The Gambia agriculture school after Akinwumi Adesina
President Adama Barrow on Thursday unveiled a plaque officially renaming the University of The Gambia’s School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences after Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina. The ceremony formally conferred the new name, honoring the former African Development Bank president for his long-standing contributions to agriculture and development across Africa.
The move recognizes Adesina’s leadership, vision, and role in advancing food security and agricultural transformation on the continent. University officials said the renaming immortalizes his legacy while inspiring future generations of Gambian students.
Transformative leadership at the African Development Bank
Adesina served as president of the African Development Bank Group from 2015 to 2025, a period marked by major institutional growth and continent-wide development programs. During his tenure, the Bank’s capital base expanded from $93 billion to $318 billion, the largest increase in its history.
He also spearheaded the High 5 development agenda focused on powering Africa, feeding the continent, accelerating regional integration, driving industrialization, and improving quality of life. Bank data shows the initiative directly improved the lives of more than 535 million people.
Under his leadership, the institution maintained its AAA credit rating and earned international recognition as one of the world’s most transparent financial institutions. The Bank was also cited globally as a leading multilateral development bank.
Impact on agriculture and The Gambia
Central to Adesina’s legacy is the Feed Africa strategy, which targeted agricultural productivity, value chains, and food systems across the continent. The program helped deliver food security to more than 104 million people, according to the Bank.
In The Gambia, the African Development Bank financed a landmark bridge linking the country to Senegal, a project long envisioned since independence. The bridge significantly reduced travel time, strengthened cross-border trade, and advanced regional integration.
The decision to rename the school was conveyed in a letter dated November 27, 2025, from Higher Education Minister Pierre Gomez. He cited Adesina’s transformative leadership at the Bank, his launch of the Feed Africa Strategy and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation initiative, and his earlier reforms as Nigeria’s agriculture minister.
University leaders said the honor reflects Adesina’s belief in African talent and innovation. By naming the school after him, they said, the institution aims to inspire students to pursue agriculture as a driver of economic growth, industrialization, and youth employment.
In a letter to President Barrow, Adesina expressed gratitude for what he described as a rare and exceptional honor. He said the recognition would remain a lasting personal milestone and confirmed plans to visit The Gambia to witness the development.
President Barrow had earlier awarded Adesina the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic in 2023, the country’s highest national honor, for his contributions to The Gambia and the African continent.
