By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
As Dr Akinwumi was sworn-in for a second term as the President of African Development Bank (AfDB), on Tuesday, the of Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed said Nigeria was proud of his lofty achievements.
AfDB swore-in Adesina in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire after he was re-elected for another 5-year tenure during the Continental Bank’s Annual General Meetindgs in August.
In a congratulatory letter to Adesina on behalf of the President and people of Nigeria, the Minister said, “we are proud of you, and we salute your passion for the Bank, and for Africa.
“The unanimity of the vote is a clear indication of the support of the entire membership of the AfDB for your leadership and program, and I use this opportunity to thank all of my fellow Governors for their support to you. I know you will live up to the expectations of all stakeholders. Congratulations!”
The minister noted that during Adesina’s first term, he successfully introduced his vision for the Bank and for the development of Africa under the acclaimed High-5 Agenda, with aim to light up and power Africa; feed Africa; integrate Africa; industrialize Africa; and raise the quality of life of the people of Africa.
According to her, it has been noted by experts that “if we succeed in diligently implementing the High-5s, it will automatically mean that Africa would meet most of the SDGs of the United Nations, which, itself, is a global blueprint for development and poverty reduction in a sustainable manner”.
“Under your leadership, and the support of the Board of Directors and staff, the Bank has made admirable progress, and we are confident that these gains will be consolidated and scaled up in the next five years. I am aware that there are a number of reform initiatives started during your first term, designed to strengthen the Bank.
“Bringing these to quick conclusion will certainly help accelerate the achievement of the High-5s, and I am confident that this will be done. I commend you for your work and passion for Africa, and wish you even more success in the next five years”, Ahmed stressed.
The minister contended that though the journey had been a long and arduous one, with twists and turns, “we managed to navigate our way to a safe harbor, guided by the golden compass of our common commitment to a strong Bank and the well-being of the people of Africa.
“I appreciate the hard work, cooperation, and sincerity of all Governors in tackling the challenges that faced the Bank in the lead-up to the Annual Meetings and election of the President. I was personally pleased to see the smooth virtual voting process. We show-cased the technical prowess of the Bank in successfully organizing our Annual Meetings and conducting the elections on a virtual platform”, she added.
