The governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has congratulated Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina on his endorsement by the African Union AU for a second term as the President of the African Development Bank.The Governor sent this congratulatory message recently from Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary And Special Adviser Media, Mr. Christian Ita, the Governor said Dr. Adesina performed creditably in his first tenure and thus his endorsement was both a confirmation of his excellent performance and a call to do more.
The Governor said the Agro Industrial Revolution driven by his administration in Cross River State has the potential to catalyse rapid growth in Africa and aligns with the Bank President’s vision for the development of the continent .
The governor added that the sterling performance of the the President of African Development Bank was a testimony to the leadership capacity of Nigerians and a confirmation of the fact that Africa has capacity to drive its development, looking inward.
Adesina was elected in his first term as president by African Development Bank’s Board of Governors at its annual meetings in Abidjan on May 28, 2015. He is the eighth president of the African Development Bank Group and the first Nigerian to hold the position.
The Executive Council of the African Union has supported Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s candidacy for a second term as President of the African Development Bank. The decision was taken during the thirty-sixth Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held during the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6-7 February 2020.
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade along with the President of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari and others attended the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he also endorsed Dr. Adesina for relection.
The governor concluded that he looks forward to robust engagement with the African Development Bank and is confident of further collaboration in achieving the state’s Agro Industrial revolution. He wished Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina the best in his election in May 2020.
