UN Secretary-General António Guterres Commends African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina for Transformative Leadership in Sustainable Development

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 30 May 2025 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has praised African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for his extraordinary vision and dedication to the economic transformation of Africa.

First elected as president of the Bank Group in 2015, Adesina will conclude his decade-long tenure at the end of August.

In a message relayed at the Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Secretary-General Guterres praised Adesina's transformative impact, stating: “Your vision and dedication to just and sustainable development have changed countless lives across Africa.”

The UN Secretary-General highlighted President Adesina's strategic leadership in implementing the ambitious High 5s development agenda, to light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and improve the quality of life of Africans.

Under President Adesina's stewardship, the African Development Bank achieved remarkable institutional expansion, tripling its capital base during his tenure. Secretary-General Guterres emphasized how this growth enabled the Bank to respond effectively to urgent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, while simultaneously advancing long-term sustainable solutions.

The UN chief particularly noted the Bank’s progress in critical areas, including clean energy development and climate-resilient agriculture – sectors vital to Africa's sustainable future and climate adaptation efforts.

He commended Adesina's pioneering work on the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which has "opened new avenues in financing for development." This innovative approach addresses the pressing needs of countries facing multiple challenges, including debt burdens, climate-related shocks, and severely limited fiscal space.

“Your advocacy was instrumental in securing their re-channeling through multilateral development banks, helping direct and use global resources where they are most needed,” the Secretary-General observed, highlighting how Adesina’s leadership has enhanced the global development finance architecture.

Guterres also praised President Adesina's contributions to advancing inclusive development and achieving meaningful progress on both the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. His efforts have been instrumental in building "a more fair and just financial system for all."

Expressing the United Nations' appreciation, Secretary-General Guterres stated: "The United Nations thanks you and looks forward to building on your remarkable record in the years ahead."

The Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings opened on Monday under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development.” The Bank Group’s august gathering was attended by several heads of state and government including the host, President Alassane Ouattara, Ghana’s President John Mahama and Azali Assoumani of the Union of the Comoros, and more than 6,000 delegates from various parts of the world.