Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was officially sworn in as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a second term in a virtual ceremony held at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
On 27 August 2020, Governors of the 54 African regional member countries and 27 non-regional member countries of the African Development Bank Group unanimously voted in the eighth President for a second five-year term on the final day of the 2020 Annual Meetings.
The AfDB said that Adesina’s first term saw the Bank achieve impactful results on the lives of millions of Africans and maintain its AAA-ratings by all major global credit rating agencies for five years in a row.
Adesina addressed participants after formally being sworn into office for a second term Tuesday. President Adesina’s historic re-election took place last week.
The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by newly appointed Chair of the Board of Governors, Ghanaian Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who administered the Oath Office.
President Akinwuni in his speech said, “Today, a rainbow stretches from the 81 member countries of the African Development Bank across the deep blue skies of Africa…The future beckons us for a more developed Africa and a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank.”
He added that he was grateful for the opportunity to serve Africa passionately to the very best of his ability.
“You elected me with 100 per cent of all the votes of regional and non-regional shareholders of the Bank — without any exception. This is unparalleled in the Bank’s 56-year history. And for this, I am exceedingly grateful,” Adesina said.
He again expressed his appreciation to all those who supported him in a tweet. ” Thank you to all of you for your extraordinary support, prayers and good wishes. May God bless each and every one of you.”
He committed himself to God asking for wisdom ” God as I start my second term a President of African Development Bank, I humble myself before you. I ask that you will grant me wisdom and that Africa will thrive and prosper. Make Africa shine.”
“A great day. My life is dedicated to God for the selfless service of humanity – and to Africa, ” he added.
Adesina pledged to focus on four areas: institution, people, delivery and sustainability; to transform the development landscape of Africa.
“When you first elected me five years ago, I had a vision. Five years later, I have yet a vision to build on our collective achievements over the next five years. A vision to build a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank Group with the leadership and capacity to deliver greater quality impacts for the people of Africa, while remaining financially strong and sustainable.”
Several presidents attended the virtual ceremony live and sent messages of support. They included Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the president of Liberia, George Weah, Alpha Conde of Guinea,
Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Atiku Abubakar were also present.
Ofori-Atta said he had no doubt that Africa’s premier development bank had secured the right leadership.
“We need to continue to steer and direct the Bank’s efforts to set global standards of excellence, integrity, commitment to service and responsiveness to the challenges of the continent,” he said.
“You earned a new mandate in a most historic fashion,” he told Adesina.
Adesina’s first five-year term in office focused on the bold new agenda for the Bank Group based on five development priorities known as the High 5s: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
Today, that ambition was being achieved, Adesina stated, adding that 18 million Africans had gained access to electricity, 15 million had benefited from investor finance, 60 million enjoyed new access to water, 141 million people had improved agricultural technologies for food and 101 million people had access to improved transport from infrastructure.
According to Adesina “Going forward in his new term, he would focus on building on the collective achievements and a stronger and more resilient African Bank Group. Our focus will be on institutions, people, delivery and sustainability. Together we win for Africa.”
“We have collectively charted a new path for Africa…We have achieved collectively impressive results,” Adesina said.
He added, “Yet again, let us move forward, driven by the power of our mission, inspired by the primacy of our vision and emboldened by the strength of our togetherness.”
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