ADESINA RALLIES MEDIA AND PARTNERS TO CHAMPION AFRICA ’s STORY AS AfDB MEETINGS OPEN IN ABIDJAN.
BY NJERI IRUNGU
Abidjan – May 27, 2025.
The 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) opened this week in Abidjan with a stirring call from outgoing President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for stronger partnerships, empowered institutions, and a reinvigorated narrative about Africa’s development journey.
Speaking before an audience of more than 5,000 delegates from 91 countries, Adesina urged African media and storytellers to take center stage in shaping the continent's global image. “You are not just observers. You are amplifiers of Africa’s voice. You shape the narrative. You challenge us. You inform the world,” he declared during the opening ceremony.
Themed “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development,” the five-day forum will spotlight urgent economic issues including domestic resource mobilization, macroeconomic stability, climate finance, energy transitions, and food systems transformation. High-level discussions and flagship reports—such as the launch of the 2025 African Economic Outlook—aim to guide Africa toward inclusive growth and financial resilience.
Reflecting on his decade-long leadership, Adesina detailed the Bank’s accomplishments across multiple sectors. More than 515 million people have benefitted from AfDB programs, including 231 million women empowered through access to healthcare, clean water, electricity, and entrepreneurship support.
One of the Bank's most celebrated recent milestones is the landmark Dar Es Salaam Declaration, signed earlier this year by 48 African nations. This ambitious pact pledges to deliver electricity to 300 million people by 2030. Backed by $55 billion in funding—$48 billion from the World Bank and AfDB, and $7 billion from development partners—it represents a bold leap forward in Africa’s energy transformation.
In agriculture, AfDB’s initiatives such as the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and the Africa Emergency Food Production Facility have secured food access for over 101 million people. Ethiopia's rapid path to wheat self-sufficiency in just four years was cited as a standout example of scalable agricultural success.
Youth and women remain central to AfDB’s development agenda. With 1.7 million young people trained in digital skills and the roll-out of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks underway, the Bank is placing Africa’s future firmly in the hands of its rising generation. Additionally, the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) has unlocked $2.5 billion in funding for more than 24,000 women-led businesses.
Infrastructure remains a cornerstone of the Bank’s impact, with over $55 billion invested in the past decade, establishing AfDB as the continent’s largest multilateral infrastructure financier. In healthcare, a further $6 billion has been dedicated to bolstering systems and supporting local pharmaceutical production.
With his presidency nearing its conclusion, Adesina reflected on his time at the helm with emotion and pride. “It has been a decade of relentless purpose, of enduring passion, and of tireless service,” he said. “Serving as President of the African Development Bank Group has been the greatest honor of my life.”
As the meetings continue, Adesina called on media professionals and development partners to remain engaged and vocal. “Attend the sessions. Ask the hard questions. Tell the real stories,” he urged.
The meetings are expected to close with renewed momentum around mobilizing Africa’s capital, strengthening institutions, and fostering global partnerships—hallmarks of Adesina’s transformative tenure and pillars for the continent’s next chapter.
