The African Development Bank (AfDB) has evolved into one of the most strategically influential institutions on the African continent. Its transformation over the past decade cannot be separated from the leadership of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who assumed office as the eighth president of the Bank in 2015. As he approaches the end of his transformative ten-year tenure, it is a critical time to evaluate the milestones he achieved, the legacy he leaves behind, and the potential course of the institution under its newly elected president, Sidi Ould Tah.

This transition does not just mark a change in leadership. It signals a new era of expectations, recalibrated strategies, and the necessity to match past momentum with fresh ideas. The AfDB is more than just a financial institution. Under Adesina, it became an emblem of what African-led development can look like when guided by vision, resilience, and conviction.

When Dr. Akinwumi Adesina stepped into office in 2015, he unveiled a transformative blueprint that came to be known as the “High 5s.” These five priority areas: Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa, quickly moved from rhetoric to reality. They became the operational compass of the AfDB, reorienting the institution from a traditional development financier into a purpose-driven engine for inclusive growth.

Each pillar was intricately tied to the needs of the continent. The "Light Up and Power Africa" initiative tackled the continent’s glaring energy deficit by mobilizing investment in renewable energy and infrastructure. "Feed Africa" revived interest in agribusiness and value chain integration, moving agriculture from subsistence to enterprise. Through “Industrialize Africa,” the Bank facilitated industrial growth corridors, while “Integrate Africa” helped stimulate intra-continental trade and policy alignment. Finally, “Improve the Quality of Life” drove interventions in health, education, sanitation, and urban renewal.

The Bank’s general capital more than tripled during Adesina’s presidency, rising from $93 billion to a historic $318 billion. This expansion allowed for deeper and wider investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and human capital development. Over $55 billion was committed to infrastructure alone, and the Bank’s projects have reached more than 500 million Africans.

His leadership was equally defined by inclusivity. Women’s empowerment received targeted attention through programs such as the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), unlocking capital for female entrepreneurs. Youth engagement took center stage with initiatives designed to tackle unemployment through entrepreneurship, skills development, and the proposed youth entrepreneurship investment banks.

One of the less spoken but profoundly impactful achievements was the Bank’s climate financing record. During Adesina’s term, the AfDB became the first African institution to commit half of its total financing to climate change adaptation and mitigation by 2025. It also launched innovative green bonds and climate resilience programs aimed at future-proofing Africa’s development against environmental shocks.

Adesina’s leadership did not end at operational excellence. He became a compelling voice for Africa on the global stage. His articulate advocacy challenged the outdated paradigms that shaped Africa’s relationships with global finance institutions. Whether in forums of the World Bank, G7, or United Nations, he consistently argued that Africa was not a continent of problems, but of possibilities.

He often criticized the unfair risk profiling that limits African nations’ access to global capital. His calls for the reconfiguration of the global financial architecture were persistent and forceful. He urged international credit rating agencies and multilateral institutions to recognize Africa’s resilience and evolving economic fundamentals. His message was clear: Africa must not be treated as a perpetual aid recipient, but as a capable partner worthy of trust, respect, and strategic investment.

In his final annual address at the 2025 AfDB Annual Meetings held in Nairobi, Adesina once again raised these themes. He emphasized that Africa must define its development path and that the future must be built not on charity but on equity. His speech was both a capstone and a call to action, a reminder that Africa’s dignity lies in its ability to mobilize its own resources and partner with the world on equal footing.

The election of Sidi Ould Tah on May 29, 2025, marks the beginning of a new era at the AfDB. Coming from his position as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Tah brings a solid track record in regional finance, development cooperation, and private sector engagement. His tenure at BADEA was characterized by a strong emphasis on regional integration, Islamic finance tools, and public-private partnerships.

Tah’s leadership style is expected to differ from Adesina’s high-profile, visionary approach. While Adesina was known for his charismatic presence and powerful advocacy, Tah is seen as a technocrat, detail-oriented, cautious, and deeply versed in financial systems. This shift could provide the Bank with a recalibrated approach to risk management, project monitoring, and macroeconomic alignment.

Initial statements from Tah’s camp suggest a continuity of major AfDB themes such as food security, climate resilience, and youth empowerment. However, he is likely to place greater emphasis on debt sustainability and financial discipline, especially in light of recent economic shocks from global inflation, currency volatility, and rising sovereign debt burdens across the continent.

One key area where Tah is expected to accelerate efforts is in leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfDB under his leadership may channel more resources into enhancing cross-border infrastructure, harmonizing trade policies, and building regional value chains. There is also growing anticipation that Tah will expand partnerships with Gulf and Asian development agencies, thereby diversifying the Bank’s financial ecosystem.

Despite its recent achievements, the AfDB still faces immense challenges. Africa remains under-electrified, under-industrialized, and over-exposed to external shocks. Youth unemployment continues to climb, and inequality threatens to erode gains in health and education. The post-pandemic recovery has been uneven, and inflationary pressures are deepening fiscal stress across member countries.

The Bank must respond with innovation, urgency, and strategic foresight. It must seek not only to continue existing programs, but also to evolve its financing instruments. Blended finance, diaspora bonds, green infrastructure funds, and digital financing platforms must be mainstreamed. The digital economy, valued in trillions, represents untapped potential for job creation, innovation, and cross-border enterprise.

Under Tah, the AfDB needs to deepen its collaboration with the African Union, the African Export-Import Bank, regional economic communities, and civil society groups to ensure that its strategies align with grassroots realities. It must also solidify its reputation among international financial institutions as a stable, transparent, and impact-oriented partner.

Climate change remains perhaps the greatest challenge. From flooding in East Africa to desertification in the Sahel, climate disruptions are increasing in frequency and intensity. The AfDB must take a leading role in financing climate adaptation infrastructure, green energy, and water security projects. This involves not only increasing funding, but also developing Africa-specific climate finance models that are scalable, equitable, and locally owned.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s legacy is not simply in the numbers or even in the policies he introduced. It lies in the confidence he instilled across African boardrooms, farmlands, classrooms, and policy circles. His was a leadership model anchored in pride, professionalism, and purpose. He reminded Africans of what is possible when we take our future seriously and act with intent.

As Sidi Ould Tah takes over, this legacy should not be diluted nor idolized. It should serve as a compass for the road ahead. The next ten years at AfDB must be about consolidating gains, scaling innovation, and tackling the continent’s toughest problems with unshakable resolve.

The new administration should remain fearless in its ambitions, meticulous in execution, and relentless in pursuit of equity. The Bank should continue to be a place where bold ideas meet technical excellence, where African problems are solved with African-led solutions, and where the continent’s immense potential is actualized through intelligent financing.

The story of the African Development Bank under Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is one of transformation, resilience, and unapologetic optimism. As a new chapter begins with Sidi Ould Tah, the future of the Bank and indeed the continent rests on a fragile but promising balance between legacy and innovation. Adesina has shown what is possible. It is now up to the next generation of leaders and partners to build on that foundation with integrity, vision, and unwavering commitment.

The African Development Bank must remain more than just a financier. It must be a lighthouse that illuminates the path for Africa’s development journey. The leadership may change, but the mission endures.