Akinwunmi Adesina’s as Forbes Africa Person of the Year

2 December 2013, Nairobi, Kenya. Forbes Africa announced Akinwunmi Adesina, Nigeria’s
agriculture minister as Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2013. He was given the prize for his historic reforms in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

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

Here is the link to the full text of his acceptance speech.

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