Former president of African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina has expressed his willingness to contribute to Nigeria’s development in any capacity deemed appropriate by President Bola Tinubu, following the completion of his 10-year tenure at the continental financial institution.
Adesina, however, clarified that he was not seeking a job, stressing that his offer was driven by his commitment to the country and a sense of responsibility to contribute to its economic progress.
He spoke with journalists on Tuesday after meeting Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he formally informed the president of the completion of his tenure and presented an account of the bank’s achievements during his leadership.
According to him, the visit was part of the customary process of reporting back to his home country after completing his assignment at the AfDB.
“It’s customary and it’s required that I come back home to tell His Excellency, the President, of the completion of my term and also to give him a report of what was achieved during my term,” he said.
Adesina disclosed that the AfDB provided approximately $7bn in financing to Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, representing about 63 per cent of the $11.1bn the bank had committed to the country since it began operations in 1971, according to his account.
He said Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the bank’s contributions and that their discussions also covered Nigeria’s economic direction and the reforms introduced by the current administration.
Adesina speaks on Tinubu’s economic reforms
The former AfDB chief commended Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and harmonise the foreign exchange windows, describing the measures as difficult but necessary steps towards economic stabilisation.
He argued that the policies were beginning to produce some positive results, particularly in foreign exchange availability and investor interest, although he acknowledged that the high cost of living remained a major concern for Nigerians.
“These are very, very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruits, quite some fruits,” Adesina said.
“If you look at it, you have a lot more FX available today. You have a lot of portfolio investors that are coming into the country. You have inflation trending downwards.
“Prices are still a bit high, but inflation is trending downwards.”
His comments come amid continued debate over the impact of the Federal Government’s economic policies. While the administration has defended the reforms as necessary to address longstanding economic distortions, households and businesses have faced significant pressure from rising living costs.
Adesina stressed that stabilising the economy should not be the final objective, arguing that Nigeria must now focus on expanding productive capacity, creating opportunities and translating economic reforms into improved living standards.
“You have to also now move from the issue of the reforms and stabilisation straight into structural transformation and also growth and prosperity, which is what the President is focusing on,” he said.
‘My heart is always at home’
Asked how he could contribute to Nigeria after leaving the AfDB, Adesina said he was prepared to serve in any capacity Tinubu considered suitable.
“My heart is always at home. And in any capacity that His Excellency feels I can help, I can help in anything,” he said.
He added that his willingness to contribute was not an attempt to secure a political appointment but a responsibility he believed he owed the country.
“I have a duty, an obligation and a responsibility to do so. And I will,” he said.
Adesina’s offer comes after a decade leading the AfDB, where he oversaw the institution’s financing and development interventions across African countries, including Nigeria.
His next role remains unspecified, as he did not announce plans to take up any particular government position.
For Nigeria, the broader challenge highlighted by his remarks is how to convert economic stabilisation into sustainable growth, stronger productive sectors and greater prosperity for citizens. Whether Adesina will take on a formal role in that effort remains to be seen.