Adesina Offers to Serve Nigeria After Meeting Tinubu

Former President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has said he is ready to serve Nigeria in any way. He believes it is his duty to help the country grow.

Adesina made this statement on Tuesday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He talked to the president about his ten years at the African Development Bank.

"I’m fully able to help Nigeria in any capacity. I’ve always had that. You know, my heart is always at home," he told reporters after the meeting.

When asked about what role he could play, Adesina said he would assist in any way the president thought was suitable. He also made it clear that he was not looking for a government job.

"I’m not looking for a job. I’m not looking for anything. I’m just here to help. It’s my country. I have a duty, an obligation, and a responsibility to do so, and I will," he said.

After the meeting, there was no announcement about any specific role for Adesina.

Adesina’s Background in Agriculture and Development

Adesina is an agricultural economist. He served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015 under former President Goodluck Jonathan. He then became the first Nigerian to lead the African Development Bank.

He was elected president of the bank in May 2015 and re-elected for a second term in August 2020. His current term will end in 2025.

As agriculture minister, he introduced reforms for distributing subsidised farm inputs. He created an electronic-wallet system to help farmers receive seeds and fertiliser through their mobile phones.

The AfDB reported that the programme reached 15 million farmers in its first four years. This initiative aimed to improve access to agricultural inputs while cutting out middlemen.

At the AfDB, Adesina managed the development agenda. This included increasing electricity access, improving food security, and promoting regional integration.

Under his leadership, the bank’s capital grew from $93 billion to $208 billion in 2019. This was the largest capital increase in the bank's history at that time.

AfDB Financing in Nigeria

During the meeting, Adesina said the AfDB provided about $7 billion in financing to Nigeria between 2015 and 2025. He compared this to the $11.1 billion the bank has given Nigeria since starting operations in 1971.

"Within 10 years, we were able to do 63 percent, literally, of that," he said. He added that President Tinubu was happy with the bank's support for Nigeria during his time.

Adesina praised the president for his economic reforms, especially the removal of the petrol subsidy and the changes to the foreign exchange system. He noted that these steps were tough but were starting to show positive results.

He mentioned the increased availability of foreign exchange, the return of investors, and a drop in inflation as signs of progress. However, he admitted that prices are still high for many Nigerians.

He also highlighted improved ratings for Nigeria from international agencies, saying the country's outlook has become more stable.

Moving Towards Economic Growth

Adesina said stabilising the economy is just the start. Nigeria must now work on transforming its economy and achieving growth.

He noted that President Tinubu understands the need to go beyond basic economic reforms. He argued that Nigeria must tackle the larger challenge of transforming its economy.

"I told the president, I’m back at home, here to help and ready to help. It’s my country. I love my country, and I’m ready to help," he said.

His offer follows a decade leading one of Africa’s main development banks. During this time, the bank funded projects in areas like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.

Adesina's meeting with the president also allowed him to formally report on the end of his two terms and the achievements he made while leading the bank. He expressed gratitude for being welcomed by the president and was pleased with the report he shared.

While Adesina did not specify how he would contribute to Nigeria’s development, he stated he is ready to assist whenever the president thinks his experience could be useful.

"It’s my country. I have a duty, an obligation, and a responsibility to do so, and I will," he said.