Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina on Thursday, August 27, was re-elected as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a second five-year term. The election took place electronically at the virtual annual general meeting of the bank. The Nigerian’s reappointment at the helm of the 56-year-old bank was a formality as he was the sole candidate. Adesina on Wednesday made a case for his re-election as head of the institution, saying that he wanted to fulfil “his sense of duty and commitment.” During a virtual session at the start of the Bank’s 2020 Annual Meetings, Adesina asked the Board of Governors to renew their trust in him for the next five years. “Five years ago, right here in Abidjan, you elected me president of the African Development Bank. It was a huge responsibility to shoulder. I promised that I would work tirelessly to accelerate Africa’s development. My vision, focused on the High 5 priorities, was my commitment, my promise, my compass,” Adesina said. “Time has passed so quickly,” he noted, citing the Bank’s achievements in the five years of his presidency: 18 million additional people now have access to electricity, 141 million people have received more advanced agricultural technology to improve food security, 15 million people have access to financing, 101 million have access to improved transport, and 60 million people have gained access to water and sanitation. With these positive results, Adesina asked the Board of Governors to renew their trust in him for the next five years. “Dear Governors, these Annual Meetings are my opportunity to offer you my services and seek a second term as President of the African Development Bank. I do so with humility. I do so with an acute sense of duty and commitment. I do so to serve Africa and our Bank,” he said.
