President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for what he described as a decade of transformative leadership at the African Development Bank (AfDB).
At a farewell and book launch held at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Tinubu—represented by Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite—said Adesina’s “High 5” agenda drove economic growth, boosted food security and strengthened regional integration across Africa.
Adesina, who took office in 2015, is completing his second and final term as president of the continental lender. The event, themed “Akinwumi A. Adesina: The Man, His Mandate, Mission and Message,” reviewed his 10-year tenure and highlighted reforms under his watch.
“We celebrate your decade-long leadership and achievements at the African Development Bank,” Tinubu said in a tribute message. “Your dedication to Africa’s economic transformation has inspired a new generation of leaders.”
A former Nigerian agriculture minister, Adesina is credited with spearheading investment in infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, and for positioning the Bank as a key driver of Africa’s development financing.