AfDB Election: Thursdays to remember, as Adesina gets re-elected

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Nigerian Akinwumi Adesina has been re-elected for the second term of five years as the President, multilateral, African Development Bank(AfDB).

Adesina, who was elected as the 8th President of the bank for the first term on Thursday, May 28, 2015 has got a favourable leaning with Thursday as he has been re-election once more on Thursday 27th August, 2020 for second term of five years.

The former Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development got elected as a sole candidate, unlike in 2015 when he emerged victorious after defeating Chadian Finance Minister Kordje Bedoumra and Cape Verde’s Agricultural Minister Cristina Duarte to take over from Donald Kaberuka of Rwanda.

The election took place electronically on Thursday at the virtual annual general meeting of the bank that started on the 25th of August, 2020.

Adesina recalled that his current five-year term as head of the African Development Bank Group was marked by the implementation of five strategic priorities for the continent’s development, known as the “High 5s.”

He said his first term as President of the Bank saw the implementation of the five strategic goals for Africa’s development, called the “ High 5s”.

“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,” he said.

He recalled that the impact of his five years as President has enabled 18 million Africans have access to electricity, 141 million people have benefitted from improved agricultural technologies for food security. 15 million people have access to finance, 101 million people have access to improved transport and 60 million people have gained access to water and sanitation.