August 31, 2025 marks the end of an era at the African Development Bank (AfDB). After a decade of visionary leadership, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina officially hands over the mantle of leadership. And Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, a seasoned Mauritanian economist, assumes office on September 1, 2025 as the ninth President of AfDB. The transition signifies not just continuity but also a renewed sense of hope and momentum for Africa’s future.
As Dr. Adesina once said, “I don’t want freebies. I want Africa to develop with pride.” His story is not just about presiding over a multilateral institution; it is about inspiring a continent to believe in its power to rise.
Early Strides: Building Blocks of a Distinguished Career
Before assuming leadership at AfDB in 2015, Dr. Adesina had already established himself as one of Africa’s boldest reformers. As Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture (2011–2015), he championed reforms that moved agriculture away from subsistence toward agribusiness.
Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA): Through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, he cut out middlemen and used mobile technology to deliver subsidized seeds and fertilizers directly to farmers.
Private Sector Innovation: He mobilized billions in private sector investment. This treated farmers as entrepreneurs rather than passive beneficiaries.
Global Recognition: In 2017, his groundbreaking work earned him the World Food Prize, the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture,” for improving food security and lifting millions from poverty.
This spirit of bold reform and innovation shaped the leadership he brought to AfDB.
Eight Transformative Years at AfDB
As AfDB President, Dr. Adesina introduced the “High 5 Priorities”. This was a framework that guided the Bank’s operations and redefined development financing in Africa:
- Light Up and Power Africa – massive investments in energy access across the continent.
- Feed Africa – agricultural modernization and food system transformation.
- Industrialize Africa – promoting manufacturing and value chains.
- Integrate Africa – supporting regional trade and infrastructure.
- Improve the Quality of Life for Africans – driving inclusive growth, youth employment, and health initiatives.
Key Achievements
Agriculture & Food Security: Over $25 billion invested in agriculture. Programs like Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) brought climate-smart innovations to millions of farmers.
Energy Access: The Desert to Power initiative, the world’s largest solar project, is transforming the Sahel into a renewable energy hub.
Youth Empowerment: Jobs for Youth in Africa aimed to create 25 million jobs and equipped 50 million young Africans with critical skills.
Financial Strength: Under his leadership, AfDB maintained its AAA credit rating and expanded its capital from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2025.
As he once reminded Africa’s youths: “Your background does not limit you. Your vision, courage, and integrity define you.”
Timeline of Milestones: 2015–2025
- 2015 – Elected as 8th AfDB President; capital stock: $93 billion.
- 2017 – Won the World Food Prize.
- 2018–2020 – Expanded the flagship programs under the High 5s.
- 2020 – Re-elected with overwhelming shareholder support; Bank’s capital stock surpasses $208 billion.
- 2021–2023 – $55+ billion in infrastructure investments delivered; Desert to Power solar initiative scales.
- 2025 – Handed over with AfDB at a historic $318 billion capital base.
An Icon in Africa and the Global Food System
Dr. Adesina has been more than a financier. He is a global voice for Africa.
Global Food Leadership: He positioned Africa as central to global food security. He engaged world leaders in several meetings by speaking at the UN, G20, and Davos.
Champion of Women Farmers: He expanded financial access and programs that empowered women in agriculture.
Climate Advocate: He consistently called for climate adaptation financing for Africa.
His resounding message to the world has been: “Believe in Africa. Invest in Africa.”
From Vision to Impacts: Timeless Principles for Young African Leaders
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s journey is more than a success story. It is a manual for how visions can be transformed into real impacts. For young Africans aspiring to shape the future, here are timeless principles drawn from his life:
Education as a Launchpad – Knowledge as Your Passport
Every great leader has a starting point, and for Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, it was the classroom. His academic journey laid the foundation for his bold ideas and visionary leadership.
- First Degree: He began at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, where he studied Agricultural Economics. In 1981, he graduated with First-Class Honours and became the first student in his department to achieve this distinction.
- Second Degree: Pursuing his passion abroad, he attended Purdue University, Indiana, USA, where he earned his M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics in 1985.
- Third Degree: Determined to dig deeper into food systems and development, he continued at Purdue, completing his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics in 1988. His research focused on rural economies, food security, and policies that empower smallholder farmers.
This rigorous training equipped Dr. Adesina with both the technical knowledge and global perspective that he would later use to reform agriculture in Nigeria, drive innovations at the Rockefeller Foundation, and ultimately transform the African Development Bank. His academic record reminds Africa’s youth that education is not just a certificate, it is a passport to impact.
Case Study: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), also leveraged international education and expertise to shape global trade policy.
Integrity and Courage – Leading with Character
Reforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector meant dismantling entrenched abnormalities in fertilizer distribution. This required courage, and Adesina showed that integrity is the strongest foundation of leadership.
Case Study: Dr. Dora Akunyili, as the head of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), fought drug counterfeiting with unwavering honesty and courage. This saved countless lives and sanitized the system.
Innovation as a Driver – Solving Problems with Creativity
By introducing mobile platforms to deliver seeds and fertilizer directly to farmers, Adesina showed that innovation is not about fancy tools but about solving real problems at scale.
Case Study: Strive Masiyiwa, founder of Econet, used innovation to break telecom monopolies and connect millions across Africa.
Think Pan-African – Dream Beyond Borders
Adesina’s leadership was never confined to Nigeria. At AfDB, he constantly framed Africa as a collective, and positioned the continent as a solution provider in global food security and climate conversations.
Case Study: Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, preached and lived a vision of continental unity. This is a reminder that Africa’s progress must be regional, not just national.
Resilience Matters – Staying the Course Amid Storms
Leadership is never without criticism. Adesina faced resistance and scrutiny, yet he held firmly to his mission and left AfDB stronger than ever. For Africa’s youth, the lesson is simple: criticism may shake you, but resilience will shape you.
A Warm Welcome to Dr. Sidi Ould Tah: The Right Leader for Africa’s Next Leap
On May 29, 2025, during AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah was elected as the Bank’s new President with a strong mandate; winning about 76% of total votes and 72% of African regional votes.
Educational Journey: Grounded in Economics, Shaped for Leadership
Like his predecessor, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah built his leadership on a strong academic foundation. His training in economics and development prepared him for a career of excellence in finance and international development.
- First Degree: He began his studies at the University of Nouakchott, Mauritania, where he laid the groundwork in economics and public administration.
- Master’s Degree: He advanced to Paris Diderot University (Paris VII), France, where he earned a Master’s degree in Economics. This phase sharpened his analytical skills and deepened his grasp of development economics.
- Doctorate: His academic journey reached its peak at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France, where he obtained a Ph.D. in Economics. His doctoral research focused on financial systems and sustainable development, areas that would later define his leadership at BADEA and now AfDB.
Dr. Sidi’s educational path reflects his disciplined approach: blending local grounding with international exposure, and translating theory into practice. It is this mix of academic rigor and practical vision that makes him the right leader for Africa’s next chapter.
Professional Strides
Director General, BADEA (2015–2025): He oversaw a 376% capital expansion, with lending approvals growing twelvefold.
Minister of Economy and Finance, Mauritania (2008–2015): He shaped macroeconomic reforms.
As the African Development Bank turns a new page, the continent proudly welcomes Dr. Sidi Ould Tah as its ninth President. His election is more than a leadership transition, but a statement of confidence, a collective vote of trust from Africa and the world that he is the best man for the job.
Dr. Sidi inherits not only a strong and resilient AfDB, but also the hopes of over 1.4 billion Africans. With more than 35 years of experience across international finance and African development, he embodies the rare blend of technical brilliance, visionary foresight, and tested leadership that this moment demands.
His transformative decade at the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he expanded capital by 376% and elevated the bank to an AA+ rating, speaks volumes of his ability to attract unprecedented financing and drive sustainable growth.
Today, as Africa stands at a critical juncture, navigating global funding shifts, climate challenges, and the urgent need to industrialize, Dr. Sidi is uniquely prepared to steer the AfDB to even greater heights. His proven expertise in mobilizing Gulf and Arab capital, his innovative approach to diversifying financial models, and his unwavering commitment to strengthening Africa’s financial stability position him as the perfect successor to continue building on Dr. Adesina’s legacy.
Above all, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah represents continuity with fresh energy, stability with innovation, and vision with execution. He carries the trust of shareholders, the goodwill of Africa’s governments, and the aspirations of Africa’s youths. His presidency signals not just a smooth handover, but a bold new beginning.
As we celebrate this historic moment, we say with conviction: Africa could not have asked for a better leader at this time. With Dr. Sidi Ould Tah at the helm, the future of the AfDB, and indeed of Africa’s development journey, shines even brighter.
Looking Ahead: The Task Before Dr. Sidi Ould Tah
As Dr. Sidi Ould Tah steps into the presidency of the African Development Bank, he brings not just experience but a clear, pragmatic vision anchored in four strategic pillars. These form both his roadmap and a call to action for Africa’s future.
1. Mobilizing Financing Amid Aid Cuts
With global aid on gradual decline, the call to action is clear: do more with smarter strategies. As Dr. Sidi puts it, “Every dollar disbursed by the AfDB should generate 10 dollars on the ground.” He envisions unleashing the power of Gulf sovereign wealth, pension funds, diaspora capital, and institutional investors; all orchestrated through innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds and blended finance.
2. Reforming Africa’s Financial Architecture
Today, too many financial institutions work in silos and that must change. Dr. Sidi’s conviction is that “The AfDB should act as a catalyst, the conductor orchestrating the mobilisation and redistribution of resources.” By fostering synergy with institutions like Afreximbank, African Finance Corporation, regional banks, and national funds, he aims to weave together a coherent, powerful financial ecosystem.
3. Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend
Africa’s future lies with its youth and Dr. Sidi is determined to make their talents count. In his words, “Africa is the youngest continent in the world, we need to make our human capital a source of growth to reap the benefit of the demographic dividend.” His strategy hinges on scaling vocational, technical, and STEM trainings. This is paired with opportunities in agriculture, industry, and services to transform Africa’s young population into its greatest asset.
4. Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Africa doesn’t just need infrastructure; it needs infrastructure that lasts. “We need resilient infrastructure to create a conducive environment for industries to prosper, not just to export raw materials, but to add value on the continent.” His vision includes robust and integrated corridors that bridge energy, transport, and industrial systems; infrastructure that can withstand climate risks and propel economic transformation.
Conclusion: Passing the Torch, Illuminating the Future
Africa celebrates not just a transition of leadership at the African Development Bank, but a continuity of vision and purpose. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, with his boundless optimism and practical reforms, leaves behind an institution that is stronger, bolder, and globally respected. His words still echo as a challenge and a promise: “I don’t believe Africa should beg its way to development, for countries to develop, they need concessional financing, which is not aid.”
Into this legacy steps Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, a leader equally defined by integrity, innovation, and results. With clarity and conviction, he has already outlined the path ahead: making every dollar work tenfold, uniting Africa’s financial architecture, investing in its greatest asset which is its youths, and building infrastructure that is not only robust but resilient.
His declaration, “Youths and women are not a challenge, they are the engine; an asset, not a burden,” sets the tone for an era where Africa’s potential will finally be matched by performance.
This handover is more than ceremonial but symbolic. It tells Africa’s 1.4 billion people, and the world at large, that leadership rooted in vision and backed by delivery will continue to define the AfDB. It assures us that the journey of transformation is evolving to a greater dimension under the leadership of Dr. Sidi Ould Tah.
A Call to Africa’s Youth
For the young men and women of Africa, this moment is also your call to action. Dr. Adesina has shown that courage, education, and innovation can turn limitations into legacies. Dr. Sidi is showing that resilience, partnerships, and a bold vision can turn challenges into opportunities.
The next chapter belongs to you, to take these lessons, own them, and write new stories of impact for Africa.
The baton has passed. The flame burns brighter. With Dr. Sidi Ould Tah at the helm, Africa’s future is not a distant dream, it is a destiny being shaped today.
Africa’s time is now and its journey is unstoppable.
Dr. Fakunle is a Senior Agribusiness and Policy Expert based in Abuja, Nigeria.
