Adesina sworn in, begins second term as AfDB president

Nigeria’s Akinwunmi Adesina was today sworn in to mark the commencement of his second term of five years in office as president of the Africa Development Bank. The ceremony was done virtually in observance of Covid-19 protocols.

Adesina took the oath of office which was administered by Kenneth Ofori-Attah, the chairperson of the AfDB board of Governors and Ghana’s finance minister.

It will be recalled that Adesina, a former minister of agriculture in Nigeria, was reelected by 100 per cent votes of both the regional and non-regional voters on August 27, 2020.

He was first elected to the office on May 28, 2015.

Adesina is the first Nigerian to be elected and win re-election to serve as AfDB President.

Dignitaries at his swearing-in ceremony included heads of states, governors, and external stakeholders, according to a statement from the bank.

During Adesina’s first term, the AfDB president, he achieved groundbreaking results; touching the lives of 335 million Africans, including facilitating 18 million people getting access to electricity; 141 million people benefiting from improved agricultural technologies to boost food security; 15 million people benefiting from access to finance from private investments; 101 million people provided with access to improved transport; as well as helping 60 million people gain access to clean water and sanitation.