NIGERIA:Tinubu Hails Election Of Sidi Ould Tah As New AfDB President

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, on the election of Dr Sidi Ould Tah as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

This was contained in a statement released on Thursday signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Tah, a former Mauritanian Finance Minister, and immediate past Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, emerged president of the AfDB at the institution’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

In a telephone conversation with President Ghazouani from Lagos on Thursday, President Tinubu commended the transparent electoral process that produced Dr Tah.

He said Tah’s experience and leadership credentials will add significant value to the AfDB at this critical time.

Dr Tah will replace Dr Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, who completes his second term in September 2025.

President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong partnership with the AfDB, noting that the country remains the largest shareholder among the 81 member nations of the institution.

He expressed readiness to work closely with Dr Tah to advance infrastructure development, food security, energy access, and climate resilience across the continent.

President Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s recent approval of a 500 million dollar capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund, extending its operations by another 15 years.

The Trust Fund, established in 1976, is fully financed by Nigeria to support development initiatives across Africa.

He said this demonstrates Nigeria’s continued commitment to the Bank’s mission of inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

The President pledged Nigeria’s full support for Dr Tah in driving institutional reforms, strengthening Africa’s economic independence, and promoting sustainable development.

He also thanked the outgoing AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.