Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesina Emerges President of the African Development Bank.

Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesin.

Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesina has emerged president of the African Development Bank.


He emerged President in an election at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

He defeated contenders like Sufian Ahmed, Jaloul Ayed, Kordjé Bedoumra, Cristina Duarte, Samura M. W. Kamara, Thomas Z. Sakala and Birama Boubacar Sidibé to become the 50-year-old body’s eighth leader.


Adesina will now take over from outgoing bank president, Donald Kaberuka on September 1.

Earlier, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari had requested the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the candidacy of Adesina as the body’s president.

Gen. Buhari had communicated his backing of Dr. Adesina’s candidacy to Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the chairman of ECOWAS, a statement