President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina eulogizes Kofi A. Annan:

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