November 04, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, received renowned Nigerian sustainability scholar, Professor Ademola Adenle, following his historic win of the inaugural World Academy of Sciences – M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace.
The award, widely dubbed a “mini Nobel Peace Prize”, honours transformative contributions to global food security, sustainable agriculture, and peacebuilding. It was presented by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, at the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi, India.
President Tinubu congratulated Prof. Adenle for bringing global recognition to Nigeria and applauded his groundbreaking work in agricultural innovation, biosciences, renewable energy, and public health — particularly solutions targeted at rural and marginalised communities across Africa and beyond.
The President commended Adenle’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and climate challenges, describing his achievement as a testament to Nigeria’s growing intellectual influence on the world stage.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, attended the meeting.
Prof. Adenle, who serves as Senior Special Adviser on Agricultural Innovation in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, thanked the President for the reception and pledged to continue championing initiatives that uplift vulnerable groups.
He announced plans to launch the Women in Biosciences Initiative, which aims to empower rural agricultural communities through training, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The programme will also tackle malnutrition and waterborne diseases while promoting the adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, to combat energy poverty.
The initiative will run in partnership with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation across Africa and Asia, further advancing Prof. Swaminathan’s legacy of blending science with social justice.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier hailed Adenle as a “beacon of hope” for his dedication to solving global food and climate crises, underscoring the significance of his award.
President Tinubu affirmed his administration’s readiness to support homegrown scientific innovations that strengthen food security and position Nigeria as a global agricultural leader.
With this milestone, Prof. Adenle becomes the first-ever recipient of the prestigious prize, created by The World Academy of Sciences in memory of Professor M.S. Swaminathan — the legendary architect of India’s Green Revolution.
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