Tinubu Backs New AfDB Chief Sidi Tah, Buhari Praises Adesina
President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the election of Dr Sidi Tah as the ninth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Tinubu congratulated President Mohamed El Ghazouani of Mauritania following Tah’s election at the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in a telephone conversation on Thursday.
Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said this in a statement.
Tinubu commended the transparent process that led to the emergence of the former Mauritanian Finance Minister and Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
Tah will succeed Dr Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, who will step down in September after completing two five-year terms.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Tah would bring a wealth of experience to the role, given his proven track record in previous positions.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong partnership with the AfDB, emphasising the country’s status as the institution’s largest shareholder among its member countries, which comprised 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 dollars 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 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 also thanked the outgoing President Adesina and wished him success in his future endeavours.
Also, Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Adesina for the successes he achieved as president of the AfDB.
“I am happy with the enormous success Adesina has achieved at the end of his tenure, and I am glad to have supported his emergence as the helmsman of the bank in the first and second instances.
“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,” Buhari said in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
According to the former president, hard work, discipline, and dedicated training has made Adesina what he is today.
Buhari said that 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.
He wished Adesina a greater strength and success in his future endeavours.
Tinubu Backs New AfDB Chief Sidi Tah, Buhari Praises Adesina is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
