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President Bola Tinubu has praised the election of Sidi Tah as the ninth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.
In a phone call on Thursday, Tinubu congratulated President Mohamed El Ghazouani of Mauritania on Tah’s appointment, which took place during the AfDB’s annual meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy, shared this news in a statement.
Tinubu lauded the transparent process that led to the selection of the former Mauritanian finance minister and director general of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
Tah will take over from Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, who is set to step down in September after serving two five-year terms.
Tinubu expressed confidence that Tah would bring valuable experience to the position, highlighting his strong track record in prior roles.
He reiterated Nigeria’s robust partnership with the AfDB, noting the country’s role as the largest shareholder among its member nations, which include 54 African countries and 27 non-African states.
The president reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating closely with the incoming AfDB president to promote shared priorities, such as infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, energy access, and climate resilience.
“Nigeria approved a $500 million capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) in May 2025, extending its operations by an additional 15 years. Established in 1976, the NTF is a special AfDB fund entirely financed by Nigeria to support development initiatives across Africa.
This renewed commitment highlights Nigeria’s ongoing dedication to the Bank’s mission of fostering inclusive growth and reducing poverty on the continent.”
Tinubu also pledged Nigeria’s unwavering support for Tah in realizing his vision for the organization, which includes bolstering regional financial institutions, fostering Africa’s economic independence, leveraging population growth for development, and constructing climate-resilient infrastructure.
Additionally, Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing Adesina and wished him success in his future endeavors.
