Akinwumi Adesina sworn in as President of AfDB

Akinwumi Adesina has been sworn in for a second term in office as the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

He was sworn in at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in an event that was broadcast virtually.

The oath of office was administered by Kenneth Ofori-Attah, Ghana’s finance minister and chair of the AfDB board of governors.

Adesina had said: “I am deeply grateful for the collective trust, strong confidence and support of our shareholders for electing me for a second term as President. It is yet another call for selfless service to Africa and the African Development Bank, to which I will passionately devote myself”.

“The future beckons us for a more developed Africa and a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank Group. We will build on the strong foundations of success in the past five years, while further strengthening the institution, for greater effectiveness and impacts”

Adesina was a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria, He was elected as the President of the African Development Bank in May 2015 and re-elected for a second term in August 2020. He is the first Nigerian to hold the post.

He is also the first president to be elected by 100 percent of votes by regional and non-regional members of the bank.