Former African Development Bank, AfDB, President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina met President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, and declared his readiness to serve Nigeria.
Adesina said he was in Aso Rock to formally inform the President that he had completed his two terms as AfDB President after 10 years, and to brief him on achievements.
"I completed my two terms as President of the African Development Bank, 10 years, and it's customary and required that I come back home to tell His Excellency the President of the completion of my term, and to give him a report of what was achieved," Adesina told State House correspondents after the meeting.
He said AfDB's financing to Nigeria from 2015 to 2025 was about $7 billion, which is roughly 63 percent of the $11.1 billion total the bank has provided to Nigeria since it started operations in the country in 1971.
"So within 10 years, we were able to do 63 per cent, literally, of that. Mr President was very pleased with what was done," he said.
On his future role, Adesina insisted he was not looking for a job but felt a duty to help his country.
"I'm fully able to help Nigeria in any capacity. My heart is always at home. In any capacity that His Excellency feels I can help, I can help in anything. I'm not looking for a job. I'm not looking for anything. It's my country. I have a duty, an obligation and a responsibility to do so, and I will," he said.
Adesina also commended Tinubu's economic reforms, including petrol subsidy removal and forex harmonisation, describing them as "very, very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruits," citing improved FX availability, return of portfolio investors, and inflation trending downwards.
