I’ll use AfDB presidency to eradicate poverty – Adesina

June 2, 2015 : Samuel Awoyinfa

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

The President-elect, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has said he will work hard and develop programmes that will end poverty on the continent during his tenure.

He said this in Abeokuta on Monday during a thank you visit to Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his support while he was vying for the coveted position.

Adesina said the time had come for the Africa continent to tackle the challenges of inadequate electricity supply, unemployment and other social imbalances.

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He said, “I want to assure you that I as the President of the bank, by the grace of God, poverty will not be the comparative advantage of Africa and we will work very hard to develop programmes that will end poverty on this continent. I will evolve programmes that will lead people out of poverty and create opportunities for shared prosperity all across our continent.

“I think critical issues of infrastructure will be important; energy for all will be important; electricity will be important and critical to build the private sector and to create wealth all across our continent.

“We want to make sure we are able to create jobs for hundreds of millions of our people instead of people going across the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean Sea to go to Europe; we want to create jobs on this continent of Africa and we can do that.”

Adesina said there was the need to revive rural economies in Africa and lift hundreds of rural people that depended on agriculture out of poverty.

“So, getting agriculture to work as a business is going to be a big one that we are going to do for inclusive growth and also into regional integration,” he added.

Adesina further stressed that his vision for Africa was that of a stable, peaceful and a secured continent.

“My dream and vision for Africa is one; an Africa that is growing well, has a lot of shared prosperity and an Africa where you have a lot of peace, stability and security, and one which is regionally integrated within ourselves but also globally competitive in what we do,” he added.

The governor, in his response, expressed confidence in Adesina, stressing that his performance as the immediate past Minister of Agriculture placed him in a better stead for better performance at the AfB.

“You did well when you served the nation as the Minister of Agriculture, and now that you are going to serve the entire continent of Africa, I believe you will do better. I am happy this is happening during my own time,” Amosun said.