Akinwumi Adesina crowned Forbes’ Africa Person of the Year beating Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote

Nigerian Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina has been named the 2013 Forbes African of the Year beating Nigerian billionaires Aliko Dangote and Jim Ovia.

Adesina was given the award for his reforms to the country’s farming sector.

‘He is a man on a mission to help Africa feed itself’, said Forbes Africa editor Chris Bishop.‘My goal is to make as many millionaires, maybe even billionaires, from agriculture as possible’, Adesina said in his acceptance speech.

Aliyu Tanko from BBC Hausa says Adesina has introduced more transparency into the supply and distribution of fertiliser, which had previously been marred by massive corruption.

Additional report from BBC.