President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania on the election of Dr Sidi Ould Tah as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.
Tah was the former Mauritanian Finance Minister and Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement said President Tinubu, in a telephone conversation from Lagos with the Mauritanian leader on Thursday afternoon, after Tah’s election at the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, commended the transparent process that led to the emergence of the former Mauritanian Finance Minister.
Tah will succeed Nigeria’s Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who will step down in September after completing two five-year terms.
Tinubu believes that Dr Tah would bring a wealth of experience to the role, given his track record in former positions.
The president reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong partnership with the AfDB, emphasising its status as the institution’s largest shareholder among its member countries, comprising 54 African nations and 27 non-African states.
He further restated his commitment to working closely with the incoming AfDB president to advance shared priorities, including infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, energy access, and climate resilience.
Nigeria recently approved a $500 million capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) in May 2025, extending the fund’s operations by another 15 years.
Established in 1976, the NTF is a special AfDB fund fully financed by Nigeria to support development projects across Africa.
This renewed commitment underscores Nigeria’s continued dedication to the Bank’s mission of driving inclusive growth and poverty reduction on the continent.
Tinubu pledged Nigeria’s full support for Mr. Tah in implementing his vision for the institution, including strengthening regional financial institutions, promoting Africa’s economic independence, leveraging population growth for development, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.
He thanked the outgoing President, Dr Adesina, and wished him success in his future endeavours.
