(Ecofin Agency) - • AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina highlights the impact of his leadership, citing benefits to 565 million Africans.
• Major development milestones under the High 5 strategy included infrastructure, clean water, and electricity access.
• As his term ends, Adesina warns of mounting geopolitical and climate-related challenges for Africa’s future.

During a press lunch at the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) 2025 Annual Meetings in Abidjan, outgoing president Akinwumi Adesina shared that over 565 million Africans had their lives improved by the Bank’s projects under his leadership. He insisted this figure was not just a statistic but a sign of real change and fulfilled hopes.

Adesina used the moment to revisit the Bank’s High 5 strategy, launched in 2015 to drive Africa’s growth across five priorities: Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.

He pointed to several key achievements. For example, 128 million people now benefit from better public services. He highlighted the Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment plant in Egypt, the largest in Africa, which now serves 12 million residents.

On transportation, 121 million people gained access to improved infrastructure. One standout project was the Senegambia Bridge, which cut a journey between Senegal and The Gambia from two days to just 15 minutes, boosting regional trade.

In food security, 104 million Africans saw direct benefits. A major contributor was the $1.5 billion Emergency Food Production program. It helped 13 million farmers produce 44 million tons of food, easing pressure during crisis periods.

The Bank’s efforts also focused on basic services. Now, 63 million people have access to clean drinking water, 34 million to improved sanitation, and 28 million to electricity. Adesina shared a personal story from a Kenyan woman who gained electricity through the last-mile connectivity project. She said, “We were in the dark, now we have light.” For Adesina, this kind of testimony reflects what the Bank is really about: changing lives.

But the impact extended beyond social services. Adesina emphasized the Bank’s transformation under his leadership. AfDB’s capital surged from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion today. Its African Development Fund was replenished to a record $8.9 billion. New financial tools like hybrid capital and synthetic securitization positioned the Bank as a global leader, even earning it the title of best multilateral development institution.

Adesina described the High 5 priorities not just as a framework, but as a movement. All 81 member countries endorsed it during consultations for the AfDB’s 2024–2033 ten-year strategy. He said he was proud to pass this legacy to the next president.

However, the road ahead will not be easy. Africa still faces huge challenges, made worse by global trends. Long-time partners such as the United States are rethinking development strategies. The Trump administration, under domestic pressure, has shifted focus toward energy security and critical supply chains. This has already led to funding cuts for long-term infrastructure in Africa.

Food insecurity remains a major concern, worsened by dependence on imports and climate disruptions. Climate change hits Africa hard and demands big investments in resilience. At the same time, weak tax systems and illicit financial flows hold back efforts to raise local resources. Youth unemployment is rising fast, driven by a booming population, which increases inequality and sparks social tension. Creating inclusive economic opportunities is now more urgent than ever.

Whoever takes over from Adesina must guide the Bank through a complex geopolitical environment. International partners, often with conflicting interests, will closely watch how well the Bank aligns with their goals. The next leader will also need to keep AfDB financially strong to support big projects like Mission 300, which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.

The next president will have to strengthen ties with the African private sector to close funding gaps and deliver results that keep shareholder trust. As Adesina says his goodbyes, speculation continues around who will succeed him, with whispers of political influence shaping the final decision.