Mauritanian Sidi Ould Tah elected 9th president of AfDB Group
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Mauritanian Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania was yesterday elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group at the bank’s annual meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Tah was elected by the bank’s Board of Governors, comprising Finance and Economy Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the Bank Group’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries.
Following Tah’s election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged Nigeria’s full support to Dr. Tah, promising to work closely with him in advancing Africa’s economic development and financial autonomy.
In a congratulatory telephone call to Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani yesterday, Tinubu lauded Dr. Tah’s emergence as the ninth President of the AfDB, describing the former Mauritanian Finance Minister’s election as the outcome of a transparent and commendable process.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the AfDB’s mission and assured Dr. Tah of Nigeria’s cooperation in implementing his vision for the Bank.
He said President Tinubu pledged Nigeria’s full support for Dr. Tah in implementing his vision for the institution, including strengthening regional financial institutions, promoting Africa’s economic independence, leveraging population growth for development, building climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthening regional financial institutions, enhancing Africa’s economic independence, harnessing the continent’s population for development, and accelerating the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure.
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President Tinubu also reiterated Nigeria’s strong partnership with the AfDB and its strategic interest in the institution’s key development priorities, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, agricultural transformation, energy access, and climate action.
The Nigerian government had earlier reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the AfDB by approving a $500 million capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF), a special fund established in 1976 and wholly financed by Nigeria to support low-income African countries.
President Tinubu also extended appreciation to Dr. Adesina for his transformative leadership at the AfDB and wished him success in his future endeavors.
Tah will assume office on September 1, 2025, for a five-year term, following the end of the second mandate of current President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari commended Adesina’s transformative leadership at the AfDB, praising Adesina for what he described as “a spectacular performance” over two successful terms.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari yesterday lauded Adesina’s record as “unmatched,” declaring that shareholders of the multilateral bank are departing the era “far happier than they had ever been.”
“I have seen Dr. Adesina, a son of Nigeria, put up a spectacular performance in the African Development Bank after two terms. As his tenure ends and a successor is emerging, records show that he has set such a great, unmatched record of excellence,” Buhari said.
Buhari, who played a key role in Adesina’s rise to the leadership of the continental bank, expressed personal satisfaction at having backed his candidacy both in 2015 and during his re-election campaign in 2020.
“I am happy with the role I played in bringing his talent forward,” the former Nigerian leader stated.
Under Adesina’s leadership, the AfDB significantly expanded its developmental footprint across Africa, advancing major projects in energy, infrastructure, food security, and financial inclusion.
Flagship initiatives such as the “Feed Africa” program and “Desert to Power” have received global recognition for their bold scope and measurable impact.
Buhari attributed Adesina’s success to a blend of natural ability, relentless discipline, and unwavering determination.
“The outgoing AfDB president is blessed with a special talent, combined with hope, faith, a firm resolve and confidence, with which he overcame all odds to stand out as a beacon of inspiration to others,” Buhari said.
Adesina, an Agricultural Economist and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, is widely respected for redefining Africa’s development narrative during his tenure.
