As the first tenure for the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) elapses, President Muhammadu Buhari has again re-nominated Dr. Akinwunmi for a second term. Dr. Adesina, while speaking at an event in Lagos on 6th October 2019 commended President Buhari for nominating him for re-election for a second term as President of the Bank.
Also, when asked by former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Minister of Agriculture, it was duty calling me to the land of my birth.
In his words “I served Nigeria to the very best of my ability.
I thank God that Nigeria’s agriculture sector witnessed a much-needed transformation at the time".
With the strong support of President Jonathan and the then President-elect, Buhari, we campaigned very hard for the position of the President of the African Development Bank.
It was a Nigeria effort, as all hands were on deck.
He hinted on some personalities behind his achievements to include our former presidents and heads of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, and Namadi Sambo, and of course my dear indefatigable sister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who ran a spirited campaign for me.
He further disclosed that by God’s grace, I was elected President of the African Development Bank(AfDB) on May 28, 2015, exactly 24 hours after my term of office as Minister ended.
The nation jubilated as I became the first-ever Nigerian to be elected President of the bank since its establishment in 1964.
Dr. Adesina disclosed that while severing as President of the AfDB in the last four (4) years, about 16 million people were connected to electricity, provided 70 million people with improved agricultural technologies to achieve food security.
He gathered that nine million people were given access to finance from private sector companies, provided 55 million people with access to improved transport, and 31 million people with access to water and sanitation.
In all, 181 million people have directly benefitted from our investments.
“I am proud of all my staff and the Board of Directors whose hard work and relentless support have helped make this happen, the AfDB boss was quoted as saying.
Dr. Adesina thanked President Buhari for re-nominating him for a second term as President of the AfDB and for being such a wonderful champion and supporter of his re-election."
