Dr Akinwumi Adesina on Monday officially handed over the leadership of the African Development Bank (AfDB) to Mauritanian economist, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, bringing an end to his 10-year tenure at the institution.
The handover ceremony, which took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, was presided over by the Chair of the Bank’s Board of Governors, Ludovic Ngatsé of the Republic of Congo, and attended by ministers of finance and central bank governors from the 81 member countries.
Adesina, who became the 8th President of AfDB in 2015, described his stewardship as a “journey of transformative growth” for the Bank and the continent. “Serving as President of the African Development Bank has been the greatest honor and privilege of my professional career,” he said.
Under his leadership, the Bank’s capital base grew from $93 billion to $318 billion, while its projects impacted more than 565 million people across Africa through initiatives such as access to electricity, food security, healthcare, clean water, and infrastructure development.
Adesina’s administration also maintained the Bank’s triple-A rating and supported the African Continental Free Trade Area, while pushing the “High 5” priorities of Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
Dr Tah, who was sworn in as the 9th President of the Bank, pledged to build on Adesina’s legacy and strengthen AfDB’s role in accelerating Africa’s economic growth and integration.
