Akinwumi Adesina named Africa’s personality of the year for transformative leadership

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Lagos, Nigeria – Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has been awarded Africa’s Personality of the Year for 2024, highlighting his groundbreaking contributions to the continent’s progress.

Mobilizing over $25 billion in 2024 alone, Adesina has driven initiatives that impact more than 45 African nations, fostering economic growth, sustainability, and integration.

AfricaHeadline, reports team
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In renewable energy, the AfDB invested $5.2 billion across six countries, adding 4,500 MW of clean power, electrifying 25 million homes, and cutting carbon emissions by 12 million tons annually.

Meanwhile, $7.3 billion in agricultural funding in countries like Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ethiopia boosted local food production by 35%, reduced import reliance by 40%, and improved food security for 50 million rural Africans.

Infrastructure modernisation received $6 billion, enhancing trade corridors and reducing transport costs by 30%, while industrial zones in nations including South Africa and Ghana attracted $11 billion in private investments, generating 700,000 jobs. Women entrepreneurs gained unprecedented access to resources, impacting 30 million lives directly and indirectly.

Adesina’s leadership has also propelled climate resilience through a $3.5 billion adaptation fund, protecting 20 million people in vulnerable nations like Madagascar and Mozambique. On the global stage, he secured $10 billion in commitments for Africa at major events like COP29.

Adesina’s visionary approach has elevated intra-African trade to $120 billion annually, while his focus on strategic action cements his legacy as a unifying force for the continent’s future.