Former President of the African Development Bank Group, ADB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has dedicated his African Lifetime Achievement Award to Nigeria and the African continent.
Adesina was presented with the award at the African Heritage Awards in Accra, Ghana, during the weekend.
Speaking at the event, which was attended by the President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama, and other dignitaries, Adesina described his service to Africa as a “a lifetime calling” and reaffirmed his commitment to the development of the continent.
He described Africa as “a continent in motion,” stressing that its future is underpinned not just by optimism but by measurable economic progress.
The ex-ADB President, who was also a former Nigerian minister of agriculture, cited projections by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, indicating that Africa’s economy is expected to grow by about 4.2 percent in 2026, positioning it among the fastest-growing regions globally.
Highlighting the continent’s economic transformation, Adesina pointed to leading African enterprises such as the Dangote Group, MTN Group, Safaricom, and Jumia as clear indicators that Africa has evolved into an “investable reality”.
He also underscored Africa’s strategic importance in the global energy transition, noting that the continent holds approximately 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral reserves but attracts less than five percent of global investment in the sector. He noted that the gap presents a significant opportunity for investors.
Adesina further highlighted the launch of the Global Africa Investment Summit, a platform he co-founded to connect African assets with global institutional investors.
He emphasized that the continent’s development must be driven by structured, long-term investment rather than dependence on aid.
Dedicating the award to Nigeria and the African continent, Adesina acknowledged the support of former Nigerian leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, in his career.
He also paid tribute to former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, whom he described as a key mentor.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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