Just In: Buhari Nominates Adesina For AfDB President

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated former Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, for a second term as the president of African Development Bank (AfDB).

This was made known on Sunday by Adesina after receiving the Emeka Anyaoku lifetime achievement award presented to him by the Hallmark of Labour Foundation.

Naija News reports that the African Development Bank (AfDB)‘s election is scheduled to hold in 2020.

Speaking while receiving the award, Adesina said: “When asked by former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Minister of Agriculture, it was duty calling me to the land of my birth.

“I served Nigeria to the very best of my ability. I thank God that Nigeria’s agriculture sector witnessed a much-needed transformation at the time.

“With the strong support of President Jonathan and the then President-elect, Buhari, we campaigned very hard for the position of the President of the African Development Bank.

“It was a Nigeria effort, as all hands were on deck. This included our former presidents and heads of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice-Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, and of course my dear indefatigable sister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who ran a spirited campaign for me.

“By God’s grace, I was elected President of the African Development Bank on May 28, 2015, exactly 24 hours after my term of office as minister ended.

“The nation jubilated as I became the first-ever Nigerian to be elected President of the bank since its establishment in 1964.

“We have gone some way climbing the steep mountainside of Africa’s development, yet there’s still much way to go until we reach the mountaintop.

“Nigeria, again, is giving me air in my lungs, to keep on climbing. I wish to immensely thank and appreciate President Buhari for nominating me for a second term for re-election as president of the AfDB and for being such a wonderful champion and supporter of my re-election,” he added.