Adesina redefined development leadership in Africa — Awolowo Dosumu

The decade-long tenure of the African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has been described as a one-of-a-kind redefinition of development leadership on the continent by Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu, the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.

This was contained in a commendation letter from the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation’s Executive Director, saluting Adesina’s “unprecedented leadership, enduring vision, and remarkable legacy” over the past ten years.

Made available to journalists in Abuja by the AfDB office, the letter clearly states that the AfDB under his watch had transcended the role of a financial institution to become “a bold instrument of transformation, driven by purpose, guided by innovation, and grounded in the firm belief that Africa’s best days are ahead.”

She said, “Over the past ten years, you have redefined development leadership in Africa. Under your stewardship, the African Development Bank has become not just a financial institution but a bold instrument of transformation. Your leadership has inspired an entire generation.”

Citing the AfDB’s landmark initiatives such as the High 5s, Feed Africa, and Desert to Power, as well as Adesina’s unrelenting focus on mobilising capital for climate action and infrastructure financing, the letter commended him for creating “pathways for millions” and shifting the global narrative about Africa’s possibilities.

Awolowo Dosumu also referenced the continental recognition of Adesina’s leadership when he was named the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership l, an event that attracted “no fewer than five African heads of state” and drew messages of goodwill from across the continent and beyond.

“The massive continent-wide turnout at the award ceremony left no one in any doubt that your leadership has inspired an entire generation. You have been not only a builder of institutions but also a builder of hope.”

“Your impact is indelible, and your voice will remain vital in shaping Africa’s future, wherever your journey may take you next,” she wrote.

Adesina, an agricultural economist and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, has led the AfDB since 2015, spearheading billion-dollar initiatives in food security, renewable energy, infrastructure, and industrialisation across Africa. His tenure has been widely lauded for bold vision, practical results, and an unwavering belief in Africa’s capacity to transform itself from within.

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