Akinwumi Adesina eulogizes Kofi A. Annan

President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina has described the late Kofi A. Annan as agreat mentor and father to many around the globe.

In a statement forwarded to thepublisheronline.com , Mr Akinwumi Adesina revealed that, late Kofi Annan was a global icon and a man of peace who stood firmly in support of good governance and accountability for leaders.

” He was my boss as Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), when I was the Vice President for AGRA. He had an infectious passion for ending hunger and poverty in Africa” – the statement said. 

Mr. Annan was the 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations.

He was appointed as the Secretary-General on 13 December 1996 by the Security Council, and later confirmed by the General Assembly, making him the first office holder to be elected from the UN staff itself.

He was re-elected for a second term in 2001, and was succeeded as Secretary-General by Ban Ki-moon on 1 January 2007.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

It is with much sadness that I learnt today of the death of Mr. Kofi A. Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations. 

He was a great personal mentor and father to me. His simplicity, decency, uncommon humility, selflessness and compassion made him a gem for humanity.

A distinguished gentleman. He was a global icon and a man of peace who stood firmly in support of good governance and accountability for leaders. 

He was my boss as Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), when I was the Vice President for AGRA. He had an infectious passion for ending hunger and poverty in Africa. He greatly supported me when I was Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, when he served as a member of the Eminent Persons Group that helped to support the transformation of agriculture in Nigeria. He energetically co-Chaired the High-level Panel of global leaders to support the African Development Bank in its efforts to accelerate Africa’s development. 

As U.N. Secretary General and throughout a distinguished career, Mr. Annan made Africa stand tall globally. Africa has lost a great gem. 

I will greatly miss him and his rich words of wisdom.

May his soul rest in peace.

Akinwumi A. Adesina

President,

African Development Bank