SEO Riders:
– AfDB’s Decade of Development Under Adesina
– Impact of AfDB’s High 5s Strategy on Africa
– Adesina’s Legacy in African Infrastructure and Agriculture
As Dr. Akinwumi Adesina concludes his tenure as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), he highlights a decade marked by substantial achievements in Africa’s development landscape. Under his leadership, the AfDB’s capital base expanded from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2025 .
The bank’s “High 5s” strategy—comprising Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa—served as the cornerstone of its development agenda. This approach led to significant outcomes: 128 million people gained access to better healthcare 121 million benefited from improved transportation 104 million achieved food security 63 million accessed potable water 34 million obtained improved sanitation 28 million were connected to electricit.
In the realm of agriculture, the AfDB mobilized $72 billion to implement food and agriculture delivery compacts, resulting in over 101 million people becoming food secure .
Infrastructure development was another focal point, with the bank investing over $55 billion in various projects across the continent, solidifying its position as the largest multilateral financier of infrastructure in Africa .
The AfDB also championed gender equality through the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, providing $2.5 billion in financing to over 24,000 women-owned businesses .
As he steps down, Dr. Adesina leaves behind a legacy of transformative impact, having directly influenced the lives of over 565 million people across the continent .
