By Najeeb Sani
Akinwumi Adesina, former President of the African Development Bank Group, has reaffirmed his commitment to Africa’s development, declaring that his service to the continent remains “a lifetime calling.
He stated this as he accepted the African Lifetime Achievement Award at the African Heritage Awards in Accra, Ghana
Speaking at the ceremony attended by John Dramani Mahama the President of Ghana and host of others, Adesina described Africa as “a continent in motion” and insisted that its future is driven not by optimism alone, but by clear economic evidence.
He cited projections by the International Monetary Fund indicating that Africa will record about 4.2% GDP growth in 2026, positioning it as the fastest-growing region globally.
Highlighting Africa’s economic transformation, Adesina pointed to major African enterprises such as the Dangote Group, MTN Group, Safaricom, and Jumia as evidence that the continent is no longer a future promise but an “investable reality.”
He also emphasised Africa’s strategic importance in the global energy transition, noting that the continent holds roughly 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves but attracts less than 5% of global investment in the sector.
According to him, this disparity represents a major opportunity rather than a risk.
Adesina further highlighted the launch of the Global Africa Investment Summit, a platform he co-founded to connect African assets with global institutional investors, stressing that Africa’s development should be driven by structured, long-term investment rather than aid.
The development economist dedicated the award to Nigeria, acknowledging the role of past leaders including Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo in supporting his career, and paying tribute to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a key mentor.