Press and News Farewell to Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze
With sadness, we say farewell to the late Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze. Following his passing away in February 2025, we look back on his impressive legacy and contributions to improving food security across the world.
Born in Nigeria, Dr. Nwanze began his four-decade-long career as a scientist, carrying out research on food and nutrition security at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Kansas State University, USA. As the scope of his work grew, he held key leadership roles in agricultural development, including within the CGIAR partnership as the Director General of Africa Rice, during the center’s development and sharing of ‘New Rice for Africa’: a high-yielding and resilient rice variety that contributed to food security and livelihoods in farming communities across the continent. He later became President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), before returning to the CGIAR partnership as an advisor and advocate, representing CGIAR at the UN Food Systems Summit.
Photo Credit: CGIAR
Dr. Nwanze’s dedication to equitable agricultural development was recognized worldwide with honorary degrees from McGill University, Canada, and the University of Warwick, UK, as well as being awarded the prestigious Africa Food Prize in 2016.
Although his work has contributed to stronger food systems globally, Dr. Nwanze highlighted the importance of the challenges and potential that he saw in his homeland in driving his work:
“I am an African born in Nigeria. And although my professional life has taken me to three other continents, Africa has, and will always have, a special place in my heart.”
On behalf of the Alliance, we share our condolences with the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Nwanze, and pay tribute to his contributions to our shared vision of an equitable and food-secure world.
Cover Photo Credit: IFAD
