Africa Development Bank Group President – Dr. Akinwumi Adesina: Assured to Modify the Lives of Africans through a much Adequately, Stronger, and Resilient Bank to Produce Outstanding Excellence
By Abdul Rahman Bangura–
NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- During his inaugural speech at a virtual ceremony of the swearing-in of the Africa Development Bank President, on September 1st of this year, in Abidjan – Ivory Coast, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina – President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has asserted to compose a much healthier and resilient bank to provide considerable tendency, in a bid to better the lives of the African people the more.
The Banks President proclaimed this would be accomplished with the administration and also the capacity of the bank; while enduring financially strong and sustainable. He explained that the bank, over the next five years would concentrate on the institution, people, delivery, as well as sustainability.
“Each of these is encapsulated in the following five areas which combine with the programmatic High 5s to transform the development landscape of Africa.
“Build a stronger institution; strengthen human capacity; enhance effectiveness; deepen quality and impact, and also maintain financial sustainability,” he noted. Dr. Adesin stated, the High 5s of the bank, which were formulated to expedite the liberation of the Ten-Year Strategy; had been carried out with deliberateness; speed; and also rigor.
The High 5s are Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; as well as improve the quality of life of the people of Africa.
He said that over the past five years, the bank’s High 5 programmes had impacted 335 million people; also strengthening that the bank was about people’s impact.
“The bank has delivered impressive results on these High 5s: 18 million people with High 5slectricity; 141 million people had access to improved agricultural technologies for food security; “And 15 million people with access to finance from private investments; 101 million people with access to improved transport from infrastructure; and 60 million people with access to water and sanitation,” He noted, the UNDP had shown that achieving the High would navigate to the attainment of 90% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
He said that through the Africa Investment Forum in 2018 and 2019; the bank was able to attract a combined 78.8 billion dollars worth of investment interests into Africa. The Bank’s President explained that the bank was devoted to proceeding with its work to deliver greater results on the High 5s.
“With the strong support of the African heads of state and governments; governors of the bank; ministers of finance; the board of directors as well as staff; we will be ready from today; yet again to roll up our sleeves and also continue our collective work to deliver even greater results on our High 5s.”
For New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent
www.newafricadailynews.com