President Paul Kagame has pledged continued support to the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

Kagame was speaking during the virtual swearing-in of Adesina as the bank’s president for a second 5-year term.

Adesina received a unanimous vote from all members of the Board of Governors of the Bank during the AfDB Group’s Annual Meetings 2020.

Kagame said that in his first term, Akinwumi had led the bank with integrity and purpose which was evidenced by initiatives in agriculture, energy, infrastructure, education and digitization.  

"He has led the bank with integrity and purpose for the last 5 years with his signature initiatives with agriculture, energy, infrastructure, education and digitization which links them all up,” he said.

Kagame pledged support Akinwumi as he steers the continental lender through turmoil resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on economies across the world.

"The next five years promise to be even more noteworthy. Adesina, you have our full support as you continue to lead the African Development Bank through this period marked by turmoil but also the prospect of new opportunity for our continent,” Kagame said.  

Kagame lauded the bank noting that it had played an important role in ensuring that the interests of the continent are reflected in the international agenda during the crisis.

Adesina said that in the five years of his presidency, 18 million people in Africa had gained access to electricity, 141 million people had received more advanced agricultural technology to improve food security, 15 million people had gained access to financing, 101 million now had access to improved transport, and 60 million people had gained access to water and sanitation.

Going forward, Adesina called for cooperation and support to build resilience and progress for a better continent.

 "Let us move forward driven by the power of our mission and emboldened by the strength of our togetherness...Together we achieve more, we become more resilient, we build a better bank. Together we win for Africa,” Adesina said.

Adesina was first elected as President of the Bank on May 28, 2015, replacing Rwandan economist Dr Donald Kaberuka, who had led the institution for ten years.