By Abdullahi Lukman
Professor Ademola Adenle has become the pioneer recipient of the TWAS-M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace, a newly established global honour celebrating transformative work in food security and sustainable agriculture.
The award, presented by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi, is considered a “mini Nobel Peace Prize.”
Adenle, a senior special adviser on agricultural innovation in Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture, was recognised for his outstanding contributions to climate justice, rural development, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.
His work spans biosciences, renewable energy, public health, and policy advocacy aimed at improving livelihoods in Africa and beyond.
The award honours the legacy of the late Professor M.S. Swaminathan, renowned as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution,” whose work revolutionised agriculture and inspired global innovations in food systems.
Receiving the award, Prof. Adenle said it reaffirms his commitment to science and innovation.
“As the son of a smallholder farmer, I witnessed firsthand the struggles of rural poverty. This recognition strengthens my resolve to drive sustainable change,” he stated.
Adenle announced plans to launch the Women in Biosciences Initiative, focusing on rural agricultural training, entrepreneurship, renewable energy, and public health solutions in collaboration with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Africa and Asia.
Highlighting the challenges of the Global South, Adenle stressed the importance of inclusive policies and partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
He dedicated the award to smallholder farmers and rural communities.
Prime Minister Modi described the awardees as “beacons of hope,” acknowledging their role in tackling critical global challenges.
The TWAS-M.S. Swaminathan Award aims to honour scientists from developing countries driving progress in food security, sustainable agriculture, and peace building.
