The renaming ceremony, presided over by President Adama Barrow, saw the unveiling of a plaque declaring the institution the Dr. Akinwumi Adesina School of Agriculture and Environmental Services. Barrow described the move as a tribute to Adesina’s visionary leadership and enduring impact on the continent.
Dr. Adesina led the AfDB from 2015 to 2025, during which he introduced the bank’s “High 5s” agenda—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialise Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life of the People of Africa. According to AfDB data, his initiatives positively affected over 535 million Africans, with the Feed Africa Strategy alone boosting agricultural productivity and food security for more than 104 million people.
Under his leadership, the AfDB’s capital base grew from $93 billion to $318 billion, the highest in the bank’s history. The institution also earned global recognition for transparency, maintained its AAA credit rating, and launched numerous projects across the continent, including a landmark bridge in The Gambia linking the country with Senegal, enhancing trade and regional integration.
A letter dated November 27, 2025, from the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, formally communicated the renaming. Gomez highlighted Adesina’s transformative impact in Africa, particularly through the Feed Africa Strategy and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative, which empowered millions of smallholder farmers and strengthened climate resilience.
The university noted that Adesina’s earlier reforms as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture also laid a foundation for modernising agricultural production, creating economic opportunities, and advancing food security. By naming the school after him, the institution aims to immortalise his legacy and inspire students to emulate his vision and dedication to Africa’s development.
In response, Dr. Adesina expressed gratitude, describing the honour as “deeply humbling” and a recognition of his leadership in transforming agriculture across Africa. He thanked President Barrow, the Minister of Higher Education, the university’s governing council, the Vice-Chancellor, and the dean of the school. Adesina also expressed his eagerness to visit The Gambia to witness what he called a “monumental development.”
This recognition builds on previous accolades, including The Gambia’s Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, which President Barrow awarded to Adesina in 2023 for his leadership and contributions to both The Gambia and the African continent.