Adesina served as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) from 2015 to 2025. His tenure was marked by the launch of the High 5 initiatives — Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialize Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life of Africans — which, according to AfDB data, benefited more than 535 million people across the continent.
Under his leadership, the Bank’s capital rose from $93 billion to $318 billion, the highest in its history. AfDB also received global recognition as the most transparent financial institution and the best multilateral development bank, maintaining its AAA credit rating.
A key achievement was the Feed Africa strategy, which transformed agriculture and food production, providing food security for over 104 million people. In The Gambia, the Bank financed a landmark bridge connecting the country to Senegal, cutting travel time and boosting trade and regional integration.
The decision to rename the School was communicated in a letter dated 27 November 2025 by the Minister of Higher Education, Professor Pierre Gomez. He praised Adesina for driving economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable development across Africa, highlighting initiatives like Feed Africa and the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).
The University said the renaming aims to immortalise Adesina’s legacy and inspire students to emulate his vision, determination, and commitment to Africa’s development.
In a letter of appreciation to President Barrow, Adesina described the honour as “a rare recognition of my leadership in supporting the transformation of agriculture in Africa” and expressed gratitude to the Minister, the University’s Governing Council, Vice-Chancellor, and the Dean of the School.
This recognition builds on a previous honour in 2023, when President Barrow awarded Adesina The Gambia’s highest national award, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, in recognition of his contributions to the country and the continent.
