Adesina Bids Farewell

Oscar J Jeke- Zim Now Reporter

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina delivered an emotional farewell address, marking the end of his decade-long tenure as President of the African Development Bank.

The ceremony, attended by dignitaries and staff, celebrated a period of significant institutional growth and developmental impact across the continent. In his speech, Adesina highlighted the success of his "High Fives" agenda, which focused on powering, feeding, industrialising, integrating, and improving the quality of life for Africans.

"In just 10 years, our High Fives impacted the lives of 565 million people. Now that is incredible if you think about it, because that is 43% of the total population of Africa," Adesina said.

Under his leadership, the bank's capital surged from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion, the highest in its history. He noted that the AfDB provided over $102 billion in support for the continent, with $55 billion invested in infrastructure, making it the largest financier of infrastructure in Africa.

Adesina also spoke about the bank's growing global reputation, revealing that it ranked in the 90th percentile of global institutions to work for and was named the most transparent financial institution in the world for two consecutive years.

He emphasised his commitment to staff development and inclusivity, particularly for women and General Service staff. The number of women Vice Presidents at the bank rose from 14% in 2015 to 44% in 2025.

"No bird can fly with one wing. My decision was to make sure that we promote women in this bank as part of our inclusive culture," he said.

Adesina concluded his address by officially passing the baton to his successor, President-elect Sidi Ould Tah, expressing confidence in his leadership. He ended his speech with a sense of pride and gratitude.

"I gave Africa and the African Development Bank my all. I held nothing back. Together we soared. We surmounted obstacles in our way. We remained focused and resilient," he said. "I hope that I have made Africa, all our countries, and Nigeria proud."