By Kamal Tayo Oropo

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, on Friday delivered a touching keynote speech at the closing ceremony of the Africa Investment Forum 2024 Market Days.

The event, held in Rabat, Morocco, marked his final attendance as President of the African Development Bank Group, as he will be completing his two terms of five-year each in 2025.

The forum had the theme ”Leveraging Innovative Partnership for Scale”.

Adesina expressed satisfaction at the achievements of the Africa Investment Forum.

According to him, the forum has attracted over $180 billion worth of investments as Africa’s premier investment marketplace.

He  commended the partners of the forum, including the African Development Bank Group, Africa-50, Africa-Export Import Bank, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

The renowned economist and agriculture development expert was honoured with the ‘African of the Decade’ award by the Africa Business News Group.

Adesina accepted the award, saying that it was not just a recognition of his efforts, but also of those of  the “army of believers” who shared his vision for Africa’s development.

Adesina’s speech was a testament to his passion for Africa’s transformation and promoting investments on the continent.

He reaffirmed his dedication to Africa’s development, saying, “We will not stop believing in Africa. We will not stop making sure that we make Africa to be like a lighthouse. The rest of the world will say, ‘That is the place to be.’”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adesina was elected in 2015, after which he launched a bold strategy called ‘High 5s’.

They are Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Integrate Africa, Industrialise Africa and Improve the quality of life of the people of Africa.

He said the High 5s had already impacted the lives of more than 400 million Africans.

In 2018, he launched the Africa Investment Forum which, he said, had attracted up to $180 billion worth of investments as Africa’s premier investment marketplace.

In 2019, Adesina led the African Development Bank to achieve its highest capital increase since the bank’s establishment in 1964, raising it from $93 billion to $208 billion.

In 2020, Adesina was re-elected for a second term and  he led the bank through the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, he convened the Feed Africa Summit together with the Senegalese President which mobilised $72 billion for tackling food insecurity in Africa. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola