In front of several African heads of state, the outgoing president of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, took stock of ten years of action. Under his leadership, the Bank’s capital has tripled and more than $100 billion has been mobilised. His successor is due to be elected in Abidjan on 29 May 2025.
In the presence of several African heads of state, including Azali Assoumani of the Comoros Islands, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, and Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, as well as numerous delegates from around the world, the outgoing president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) reflected on ten years of innovation and financial inclusion at the institution’s official Annual Meetings ceremony in Abidjan on 27 May 2025.
In ten years, our work has enabled 103 million Africans to achieve food security and more than 22 million farmers. Access to improved agricultural technologies. I can see the impact of our work in Africa in averting an imminent food crisis that had been predicted when the Ukrainian-Russian war broke out.
AKIMWUNI ADESINA, AfDB’s President
The African Development Bank is positioning itself as a key lever for economic development in Africa. Among its recent interventions, the institution has granted a $25 million guarantee to the Bank of Africa Madagascar to support imports of industrial inputs and equipment. In Côte d’Ivoire, a loan of 30.5 million euros has been granted to strengthen financial governance and competitiveness within the framework of the ‘Financial Sector Development Programme’.
Significant resources have been mobilised by the Bank. There have been many achievements. We have seen them across the continent, whether in the area of food security, initialisation, electrification, transport infrastructure, regional policy or improving people’s living conditions.
ALASSANE OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
These meetings will conclude with the election of the Bank’s new president to succeed Akinwumi Adesina. During his presidency, the AfDB achieved significant progress.
Over the past 10 years, the AfDB has increased its support for African farmers in the agricultural sector. 30 million farmers in 29 countries have benefited from seeds and fertilisers. Additionally, 128 million people have gained access to medical care, 63 million to drinking water, 44 million to improved sanitation, and 28 million to electricity. Regarding the institution’s new headquarters, the outgoing AfDB President has expressed confidence in the project, which has already seen memoranda of understanding signed.
