From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), shared his path to becoming the bank’s first Nigerian president at the 14th convocation lecture of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on April 12.
Speaking on “Advancing Africa’s Positioning within Global Development and Geopolitical Dynamics”, Adesina detailed the pivotal roles played by Nigerian leaders in his 2015 election and 2020 re-election.
Adesina credited former President Goodluck Jonathan for nominating him, saying, “It took someone like former President Goodluck Jonathan to nominate me, for which I’m eternally grateful.”
He highlighted former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s strategic guidance and introduction to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who provided significant support. “General Abdulsalami gave me strategies… and took me to Atiku, whom I had never met,” Adesina noted.
He also acknowledged former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon, and Ibrahim Babangida for campaigning across African states. Crucially, Adesina emphasised former President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement, stating, “If President Buhari had not supported my candidacy, it was dead on arrival.”
Facing scepticism abroad due to Nigeria’s 2015 leadership transition, Adesina, through Ogun State’s then-Governor Ibikunle Amosun, contacted Buhari’s aide, Tunde Sabiu. Meeting Buhari for the first time, Adesina recalled, “He said, ‘I know you as a person of integrity… I will support your candidacy, even though you are a PDP member.’”
After his May 28, 2015, election, Adesina returned to Nigeria for Buhari’s 29 May inauguration, enduring hours in the sun to thank Jonathan and Buhari personally. “I stood in the sun for three hours… A soldier put a newspaper over my head, but I said, ‘I’ve never seen a good minister of agriculture that dies in the sun,’” he quipped.
Adesina expressed gratitude again during a recent Kaduna visit to Buhari, who remarked, “You are a very well-brought-up man.”
Under Adesina’s leadership, AfDB’s capital grew from $93 billion to $318 billion, earning global accolades for transparency and scoring 98.9% in the “Publish What You Fund” index. “This was not a job. It was a mission,” he said, urging Africa to prioritise self-reliance for greatness.