The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation has paid tribute to the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, as he rounds off his decade-long tenure.
In a statement on Sunday by its Executive Director, Ambassador Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, the foundation described Adesina’s leadership as “unprecedented” and “transformational.”
The foundation commended Adesina for redefining the role of development institutions in Africa and inspiring a new generation of leaders across the continent.
“Under your stewardship, the African Development Bank has become not just a financial institution but a bold instrument of transformation, driven by purpose, guided by innovation, and grounded in the firm belief that Africa’s best days are ahead,” the statement read.
The foundation recalled Adesina’s recognition as the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, noting that the award ceremony was attended by at least five African heads of state and drew an outpouring of goodwill messages from across Africa and beyond.
Highlighting major AfDB initiatives during Adesina’s tenure, the foundation praised the High 5s, Feed Africa, and Desert to Power programmes, as well as his focus on mobilising capital for climate action and infrastructure financing.
According to the foundation, these efforts have “created pathways for millions and shifted the narrative about what is possible in Africa.”
“You have been not only a builder of institutions but also a builder of hope,” the statement noted, stressing that Adesina’s impact will remain indelible and his voice vital in shaping Africa’s future.
Adesina, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture before his election as AfDB president in 2015, was re-elected for a second term in 2020.
Over the past decade, he has emerged as one of Africa’s most prominent advocates for economic transformation on the global stage.
