By Taiye Olayemi
The College of Gambia has renamed its College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences after former President of the African Growth Financial institution Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
Adesina was honoured in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and meals safety in Africa.
This was disclosed in a press release signed by Mr Victor Oladokun and made out there to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.
President Adama Barrow unveiled a plaque on Wednesday formally designating the school because the Dr Akinwumi Adesina College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that the honour celebrates Adesina’s management throughout his tenure as AfDB President from 2015 to 2025, when the financial institution applied wide-ranging reforms that superior financial improvement throughout the continent.
Talking on the unveiling, Barrow mentioned the renaming mirrored The Gambia’s appreciation of Adesina’s “visionary management and lasting contributions to Africa’s agricultural transformation.”
Below Adesina’s management, the AfDB rolled out the Excessive 5s improvement agenda which have been Gentle Up and Energy Africa, Feed Africa, Combine Africa, Industrialise Africa and Enhance the High quality of Lifetime of Africans.
This, in accordance with financial institution knowledge, impacted greater than 535 million individuals.
Throughout the identical interval, the Financial institution’s capital base grew from 93 billion {dollars} to 318 billion {dollars}, the very best in its historical past, whereas the establishment retained its AAA credit standing and received a number of international awards.
NAN experiences that Adesina additionally spearheaded the Feed Africa Technique, which offered meals safety for greater than 104 million individuals and strengthened agricultural productiveness throughout the continent.
In The Gambia, the AfDB underneath Adesina financed the Senegambia Bridge, a landmark venture that has considerably lowered journey time between The Gambia and Senegal and boosted commerce and regional integration.
The choice to rename the school was conveyed in a letter dated Nov. 27, 2025, by the Minister of Increased Training, Analysis, Science and Know-how, Prof. Pierre Gomez.
“Your tenure as President of the African Growth Financial institution has been transformative, driving financial development, poverty discount and sustainable improvement throughout Africa,” Gomez mentioned.
He added that Adesina’s management in launching the Feed Africa Technique and the Applied sciences for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative had “revolutionised agricultural productiveness and meals safety.”
The College mentioned the gesture was geared toward inspiring college students to emulate Adesina’s imaginative and prescient, willpower and dedication to Africa’s improvement.
In a letter of appreciation to President Barrow, Adesina described the honour as distinctive.
“It’s with nice humility and deep gratitude that I categorical my appreciation for the renaming of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in my honour,” he mentioned.
NAN recollects that President Barrow, in 2023, conferred on Adesina The Gambia’s highest nationwide honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, in recognition of his contributions to the nation and Africa.
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
