President Bola Tinubu has commended a Nigerian scholar and sustainability expert, Prof. Ademola Adenle, who recently won the inaugural World Academy of Sciences–M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace.
Receiving the award recipient at the State House, Abuja on Monday the President congratulated Adenle for bringing glory to Nigeria.
He praised him for his work in agricultural innovation policy, biosciences, renewable energy, and public health, which focuses on sustainable solutions for rural and marginalised populations across Africa and beyond.
Adenle made history as the first-ever recipient of this prestigious global honour, presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 August 2025, during the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi, India.
Widely described as a “mini Nobel Peace Prize”, the award was established by The World Academy of Sciences in memory of the late Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, the legendary agricultural scientist known as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution”. His pioneering work revolutionised India’s food systems and inspired generations of scientists across the developing world.
Adenle, who currently serves as Senior Special Adviser on Agricultural Innovation in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was recognised for his outstanding contributions to food security, climate justice, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.
He said that he would soon launch the Women in Biosciences Initiative, which aims to enhance rural agricultural productivity through training, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
The programme will also address malnutrition and waterborne diseases, and promote the adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, to reduce energy poverty.
The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation across Africa and Asia, extending Prof. Swaminathan’s enduring legacy of combining science with social equity.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
The M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace recognises individuals from developing countries who have made transformative contributions to food security, sustainable agriculture, and peacebuilding.
In his address at the award ceremony, Prime Minister Modi praised the Nigerian Professor as ‘a beacon of hope’ for his dedication to addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges.
