The President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina
Adesina has highlighted the critical role played by the bank in realising the economic opportunities of the continent.
An AfDB statement made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, indicates that Dr. Adesina disclosed this in an address to the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA).
The AfDB President who is also the Ireland’s leading international affairs think tank said bank is also critical in supporting stability, growth and sustainable development on the African continent.
The AfDB boss also spoke about some of the opportunities and challenges which Africa presently faces, including food security, debt sustainability, climate change, and the financing gap as well as what African Development Bank is doing to support and accelerate Africa’s development .
Dr Adesina noted that Africa’s challenges can be overcome through enhanced crisis preparedness, development of quality healthcare systems and infrastructure projects to strengthen the continent’s resilience.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina who is fondly called “Africa’s Optimist-in-Chief”, for his visionary leadership and passion for Africa’s transformation was first elected President of the African Development Bank in 2015 and was unanimously re-elected for a second five-year term in 2020.
He was a former Nigerian Minister for Agriculture, in 2017 and was conferred with the World Food Prize, also known as the “Nobel Prize for Agriculture”.
The African Development Bank only achieved the highest capital increase since its establishment in 1964 under the leadership of Adesina by responding boldly and swiftly to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ireland joined the African Development Fund and the African Development Bank in 2020.
