African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina on Wednesday, August 27, made a case for his re-election as head of the institution, saying that he wanted to fulfil "his sense of duty and commitment.” During a virtual session at the start of the Bank’s 2020 Annual Meetings, Adesina asked the Board of Governors to renew their trust in him for the next five years. "Five years ago, right here in Abidjan, you elected me president of the African Development Bank. It was a huge responsibility to shoulder. I promised that I would work tirelessly to accelerate Africa’s development. My vision, focused on the High 5 priorities, was my commitment, my promise, my compass,” Adesina said.   "Time has passed so quickly,” he noted, citing the Bank’s achievements in the five years of his presidency: 18 million additional people now have access to electricity, 141 million people have received more advanced agricultural technology to improve food security, 15 million people have access to financing, 101 million have access to improved transport, and 60 million people have gained access to water and sanitation. With these positive results, Adesina asked the Board of Governors to renew their trust in him for the next five years. "Dear Governors, these Annual Meetings are my opportunity to offer you my services and seek a second term as President of the African Development Bank. I do so with humility. I do so with an acute sense of duty and commitment. I do so to serve Africa and our Bank,” he said.   Côte d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara, who witnessed Adesina’s election in 2015, welcomed the fact that his country was once again presiding over the electoral process. Ouattara wished Adesina well and said he hoped that his re-election bid was successful. Adesina is the sole candidate in the running. The election will take place, electronically, on Thursday. Pulling together against Covid-19 pandemic Adesina noted that the ongoing global Covid-19 health pandemic has upended all plans - including travels - and that health and safety have become primary for all decision making. The pandemic is spreading fast and causing much havoc and untold hardships, he said, pointing to the fact that "too many" lives, and jobs, are being lost. He said: "Our collective humanity has never been so challenged — so tested, so vulnerable. Yet our interdependency, our need for pulling together, uniting and staying focused together, has never been more important. Pulling together has always been the strength of the African Development Bank." "We pulled together right here in Abidjan, where you the shareholders approved the largest capital increase in the history of the Bank - raising the capital of the Bank by $115 billion." The Bank also gave the African Development Fund 35% increase in financing to low-income countries and fragile states. Noting that with the ongoing pandemic, Africa has lost over a decade of gains of economic growth, Adesina said that "Africa’s recovery will be long and difficult." "Now we must help Africa to build back, boldly, but smartly, paying greater attention to quality growth: health, climate and the environment. Yet even in these challenging times, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank pulled together to support Africa." The Bank earlier launched a $10 billion Covid-19 response facility to support African countries. It also launched a $3 billion social bond on the global market - the largest US dollar-denominated social bond ever in world history. Adesina said: "These actions reflect our ambition, our unshaken commitment and unyielding responsibility to support, stabilize and strengthen African economies. As we stabilize nations, so also must we stabilize the Bank — our institution." "Our experience has made us better and stronger. Our challenges, though difficult, have become our gain. "Africa needs a strong and stable African Development Bank to support it through this pandemic and help its economies rebound for better, healthier lives and livelihoods for its people. And the African Development Bank needs you — our shareholders — as you always have been: united and strong."