Special envoy

Olusegun Obasanjo

H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He oversaw the country’s first democratic handover of power and initiated administrative reforms that accelerated economic growth.

Obasanjo has played a pivotal role in the regeneration and repositioning of the African Union, including helping to establish the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), designed to promote democracy and good governance. He has served as chairman of the Group of 77, chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and chairman of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee.

He is a strong advocate for food security, agribusiness, empowerment of youth and women as demonstrated by his engagement as founder of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Project. Obasanjo chairs the selection committee of the Africa Food Prize that rewards individuals who have positively contributed to making African farms more productive, profitable and resilient.