By Crystal Ugoeze
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Professor Ademola Adenle, a distinguished Nigerian scholar and sustainability expert, for winning the inaugural World Academy of Sciences–M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace, describing his achievement as a source of national pride.
Receiving Professor Adenle at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, November 3, 2025, President Tinubu commended him for his groundbreaking work in agricultural innovation policy, biosciences, renewable energy, and public health. The President lauded his efforts in developing sustainable solutions for rural and marginalised communities across Africa and beyond.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari (CON), was also present at the meeting.
Professor Adenle made history as the first-ever recipient of the prestigious global honour, which was presented by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on August 7, 2025, during the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi, India.
Often described as a “mini Nobel Peace Prize,” the award was established by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in memory of the late Professor M.S. Swaminathan, the legendary agricultural scientist and “Father of India’s Green Revolution,” whose pioneering research transformed global food systems.
Professor 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 exceptional contributions to food security, climate justice, and the empowerment of vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the State House, Adenle announced plans to launch the Women in Biosciences Initiative, a programme designed to improve rural agricultural productivity through training, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The initiative will also tackle malnutrition and waterborne diseases while promoting the use of renewable energy, particularly solar power, to reduce energy poverty.
According to him, the initiative will be implemented in partnership with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation across Africa and Asia, continuing the late Swaminathan’s legacy of integrating science with social justice.
At the award ceremony in India, Prime Minister Modi hailed Professor Adenle as “a beacon of hope” for his unwavering dedication to addressing humanity’s most urgent challenges.