Pan-African research organization AKADEMIYA2063 has named public policy expert Dr. Debisi Araba as its new Managing Director. The appointment takes effect on September 15, 2025, the organization announced on Monday.
Dr. Araba, who has built a career at the intersection of agriculture, food security, sustainability, and public policy, brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across Africa and beyond. He will work with AKADEMIYA2063’s Executive Chairperson and Board of Trustees to strengthen the institution’s role in shaping evidence-based policymaking to drive the goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“I am honored to begin this new chapter at the helm of AKADEMIYA2063’s leadership team to steer the organization’s strategic objectives in alignment with Africa’s development ambitions,” Araba said. “With great commitment to our mission, I look forward to working closely with the highly motivated team and partners to leverage home-grown expertise to drive Africa’s strategic priorities.”
Before joining AKADEMIYA2063, Araba was a Senior Consultant with the African Development Bank (AfDB), focusing on agriculture and food systems. He also holds a research fellowship at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London. His past leadership roles include serving as the inaugural Managing Director of the Africa Green Revolution Forum (now the Africa Food Systems Forum) and as Africa Region Director at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), part of the CGIAR network.
Araba has also shaped agricultural policy at the national level. As Senior Technical Adviser on Environmental Policy to Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, he co-authored the country’s National Agricultural Resilience Framework and helped design climate-smart strategies for the sector.
“Dr. Debisi Araba’s experience in the policy landscape will be invaluable to the achievement of our organizational goals,” said Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson of AKADEMIYA2063. “We are pleased to have him on board and look forward to accelerating AKADEMIYA2063’s impact under his capable leadership.”
Araba holds a Doctorate in Environmental Policy from Imperial College London, a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master’s in Clean Technology from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, and a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Geography from the University of Ibadan. He is also an Emeritus Member of the Malabo Montpellier Panel, a network of global experts advising African governments on agricultural transformation and food security.
Based in Kigali, Rwanda, with a regional office in Dakar, Senegal, AKADEMIYA2063 supports African countries with data, research, and technical expertise to advance the AU’s development blueprint. Its work spans policy innovation, knowledge systems, digital technologies, and partnerships designed to accelerate progress toward food security, economic growth, and improved livelihoods.
