President Bola Tinubu has felicitated his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, on the election of Dr Sidi Ould Tah as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.
Tah, the former Mauritanian Finance Minister and Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), will succeed Dr Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, who will step down in September after completing two five-year terms.
In a telephone conversation from Lagos with the Mauritanian leader on Thursday afternoon, after Tah’s election at the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire, the
President, in a release issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended the transparent process that led to the emergence of the former Mauritanian Finance Minister.
President Tinubu believed that Dr Tah would bring a wealth of experience to the role, given his track record in former positions.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong partnership with the AfDB, emphasising its status as the institution’s largest shareholder among its member countries, comprising 54 African nations and 27 non-African states.
The President restated his commitment to working closely with the incoming AfDB president to advance shared priorities, including infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, energy access, and climate resilience.
Nigeria recently approved a $500 million capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) in May 2025, extending the fund’s operations by another 15 years.
Established in 1976, the NTF is a special AfDB fund fully financed by Nigeria to support development projects across Africa.
This renewed commitment underscores Nigeria’s continued dedication to the Bank’s mission of driving inclusive growth and poverty reduction on the continent.
President Tinubu pledged Nigeria’s full support for Mr. Tah in implementing his vision for the institution, including strengthening regional financial institutions, promoting Africa’s economic independence, leveraging population growth for development, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.
President Tinubu thanked the outgoing President, Dr Adesina, and wished him success in his future endeavours.
Also on Thursday, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari rejoiced with Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on his completion of two terms as Managing Director of the African Development Bank, AfDB, saying that he is happy with the enormous success achieved at the end of his tenure, and is glad to have supported his emergence as the helmsman of the bank in the first and second instances.
Buhari, in a release issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba said “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, leaving shareholders far happier than they had ever been. I am happy with the role I played in bringing his talent forward.”
He emphasized how hard work, discipline, and dedicated training made Adesina what he is today, saying 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 wished greater strength and success in his future endeavours.
Deji Elumoye
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