Adesina Dedicates African Lifetime Achievement Award To Nigeria, Continent

Former President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, has reaffirmed his commitment to Africa’s development, describing his service to the continent as “a lifetime calling” as he received the African Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Heritage Awards in Accra. Speaking at the ceremony held over the weekend in Accra, Ghana, and attended […]

Former President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, has reaffirmed his commitment to Africa’s development, describing his service to the continent as “a lifetime calling” as he received the African Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Heritage Awards in Accra.

Speaking at the ceremony held over the weekend in Accra, Ghana, and attended by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, alongside other dignitaries, Adesina described Africa as “a continent in motion,” stressing that its future is driven not only by optimism but also by measurable economic progress.

He cited projections by the International Monetary Fund indicating that Africa’s economy is expected to grow by about 4.2 per cent in 2026, positioning it among the fastest-growing regions globally.

Highlighting the continent’s economic transformation, Adesina pointed to leading African enterprises such as the Dangote Group, MTN Group, Safaricom, and Jumia as evidence that Africa has evolved into an “investable reality.”

He also underscored Africa’s strategic importance in the global energy transition, noting that the continent holds approximately 30 per cent of the world’s critical mineral reserves but attracts less than five per cent of global investment in the sector. According to him, this gap presents a significant opportunity for investors.

Adesina further highlighted the launch of the Global Africa Investment Summit, a platform he co-founded to connect African assets with global institutional investors.

He emphasised that the continent’s development must be driven by structured, long-term investment rather than dependence on aid.

In an emotional conclusion, Adesina dedicated the award to Nigeria and the African continent, acknowledging the support of former Nigerian leaders, including Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo, in his career.

He also paid tribute to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whom he described as a key mentor.