The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has expressed his happiness at his re-election as the multilateral lender’s number ine person.
In his acceptance speech after he was declared by the Bank’s Board of Governors and other stakeholders as the re-elected President, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural dDvelopment said he was the first President of the Bank to be re-elected with 100 percent of the total votes.
Adesina was re-elected during AfDB’s Board of Governors’ meeting that took place recently in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
His new term will begin on September 1.
Adesina said: “Of course, right now, the sound that is the loudest in my ears is the announcement of my re-election as President of the African Development Bank for a second term.
“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.
“We also made history by re-electing me by 100 percent votes via a vote. I became the first president of the Bank in its history to be re-elected by 100 percent votes of all its shareholders and I am most grateful and very appreciative.
“This was very important; it shows the transparency of our bank, it shows your demonstrated weight of support behind my vision.
“It shows a very clear and strong mandate from all shareholders to go and implement the vision, it shows that all voices were heard, it shows that we are true to the constitutive test of our bank.
“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.”
