“A Mission, Not a Job!” — AfDB President Reflects on a Decade of Transformational Leadership
African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina marked the opening of the Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings with a heartfelt reflection on ten years at the helm, describing his presidency as “a mission, not a job.”
Addressing journalists at a special breakfast briefing, Adesina said, “Serving as President of the African Development Bank Group has been the greatest honor of my life. It has been a decade of relentless purpose, of enduring passion, and of tireless service.”
The meeting kicks off a historic week in Abidjan, which will see over 6,000 delegates from 91 countries convene and a new president elected to succeed him.
In a deeply personal tone, Adesina acknowledged the sacrifice the role demanded. “I have had no life. Completely zero. I worked every single day,” he said, emphasizing the weight of leadership that saw the Bank’s capital triple—from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion—and a record $8.9 billion mobilized through the African Development Fund.
Adesina also highlighted the reach of the Bank’s flagship “High 5s” priorities—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve Quality of Life.
“The High 5s have impacted the lives of over 565 million people across Africa,” he said. “These are not just figures. They are futures.”
He praised the media for their role in shaping Africa’s narrative, urging for more African-owned platforms to tell the continent’s story on a global scale. “You are amplifiers of Africa’s voice,” he told journalists.
Looking ahead, Adesina pledged continuity in mission even as leadership transitions. “Leadership may change, but the mission remains,” he stated. “The African Development Bank you have today is a global institution.”
