We Will Not Be Defined By Mischief Makers, ADB President, Akinwumi Adesina Highlights Achievements
The President of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on Sunday, said the management of the financial institution would not allow mischief makers to propagate lies and biases against the institution.
Dr. Adesina disclosed this while highlighting some of the achievements of Africa Development Bank since he took over the leadership of the financial institution.
In a statement signed by him on Sunday, Adesina stated that ADB would remain an exceptional financial institution in the world, adding that “delivery of the Bank cannot be denied or misrepresented based on externally fabricated lies,
distortions, misinformation, and deliberately orchestrated campaign of calumny to attempt
to tarnish our image.”
While highlighting ADB achievements, Adesina said, “The African Development Bank was ranked by Global Finance as the Best multilateral financial institution in the world in 2021. The African Development Fund was ranked by CGD as second best in the world, ahead of all 28 concessional financing institutions in developed countries. We are a AAA-rated financial institution, the only one in Africa.
“We have consistently maintained our stellar AAA credit ratings by all major global credit rating agencies, who consistently praise our excellent risk management at the Bank. We have an excellent and robust management and governance system. We deliver great value for our clients in Africa. Over the past six years, through our High 5 programs, our
work has impacted on 335 million people.
“When COVID-19 struck, our Board, based on rigorous risk assessments, approved a crisis response facility of up to $10 billion. We launched a $3 billion fight Covid-19 social bond on the global capital markets, the highest ever US dollar denominated social bond in world history. Our rapid COVID-19 response facility helped towards stabilizing African economies. It trained 130,000 health workers. It provided social protection for about 30 million vulnerable households. It provided advisory support for 300,000 small and medium sized businesses.
“To tackle the food crisis from the Russian-Ukraine crisis, our Board of Directors approved last week a $1.5 billion African Emergency Food Production Facility, to support 20 million farmers to produce 38 million metric tons of food. The Bank partnered globally. We delivered!
“To help Africa adapt to climate change, the Bank is partnering globally. Together with Global Center on Adaptation, with former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, we are mobilizing $25 billion in support of Africa. With support of President @EmmanuelMacron and G-7, our Affirmative Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) is raising $5 billion for women businesses. In 2021, we paid out $483 million to financial institutions to lend to women businesses. We will lend $500 million for women in 2022.
“Independently conducted survey by a global HR firm found 85% of staff are happy with the Bank, an exceptionally high level for any institution globally. Despite COVID-19 and challenges of working from home, 97% of staff were pleased with IT services support provided by the Bank.”
Meanwhile, he added, “Our achievements, exceptional management, good governance systems, and delivery of the Bank cannot be denied or misrepresented based on externally fabricated lies,
distortions, misinformation, and deliberately orchestrated campaign of calumny to attempt
to tarnish our image. We will tell our story. We will not be defined by mischief makers, lies and biases. We are proudly African. We will continue to make Africa proud as Africa’s only AAA-rated financial institution.
“As we start the Bank’s Annual Meetings for 2022, I wish to commend the Board of
Governors, Board of Directors, Management and all the hard working staff of the Bank for
their relentless work. I thank all our 81 shareholder countries for their incredible confidence
and support,” he stated.