The Head of the Government, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, attended the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Award ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday 6 March 2024 on behalf of the President of the Republic, HEM Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. This year, the prestigious prize is awarded to the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, for his outstanding career.
The prize was introduced in memory of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a Nigerian statesman and nationalist leader. Each year, the price is awarded to world leaders who distinguish themselves through excellence in leadership by promoting human development, good governance and societal transformation.
The Prime Minister attended the ceremony alongside other heads of state from across the continent and former presidents of Nigeria. She praised the AfDB President’s ability to tackle complex issues with insight, creativity and passion. According to the Head of the Government, the recipient has been able to identify and address the sectors that are at the heart of the transformation of our economies. Agriculture and food security, energy and access to water, green growth and sustainable industrialisation.
“Thanks to leaders like Dr Adesina, we are achieving our vision, our solutions and, ultimately, our narrative. Because today more than ever, we no longer want others to build solutions for us. Thank you for being Africa’s chief promoter, dear Doctor. “On behalf of the Head of State, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Togolese government, I warmly congratulate our brother Dr Akiwumi Adesina for his exceptional leadership and for the confidence he inspires,” Mrs Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé indicated.
The Awolowo Leadership Award does not only recognize the qualities of the recipient. It also celebrates the rich legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“With Dr Adesina, we embarked on a growth-generating and innovative project, Agropole in the Kara region, which covers thousands of hectares. We also developed a project on agricultural value chains, particularly for young people. A project that has turned young people into prosperous farmers and boosted agricultural production of organic produce. So much so that our country has now become a leading exporter of organic soya to the European Union. At the recent Africa Investment Forum, we were impressed by his personal efforts and by his support to our country in mobilising investors around projects to build railways and transport corridors in Togo,” she concluded.
