Former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they are beginning to yield results, and declared his readiness to serve Nigeria in any capacity under the current administration.
Adesina spoke on Tuesday after paying a courtesy visit to Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, where he briefed the President on the achievements of his 10-year tenure at the bank and its support for Nigeria.
The former AfDB president, who completed his two five-year terms in August 2025, said the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonisation of foreign exchange windows, were beginning to produce results despite the difficulties they had caused Nigerians.
He said: “I use the opportunity to also commend him on the reforms that he has been doing, both in terms of the macroeconomic reforms with the fuel subsidy and also the harmonisation of the exchange rate windows.
“These are very, very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruit, quite some fruit.
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“If you look at it, you have a lot more Foreign Exchange available today. You have a lot of portfolio investors that are coming into the country. You have inflation trending downwards.
“Prices are still a bit high, but inflation is trending downwards. If you take a look also in terms of the issue of how the world looks at Nigeria, it’s very very different. And I look at some of the rating agencies, how they give Nigeria a stable, some of them stable and also positive outlook. Now that’s just the beginning of the work.
“I think the most critical thing is the president realised this, and everybody knows that, you know, being a dentist is a very difficult job. But you have to also now move from the issue of the reforms and stabilisation, straight into structural transformation and also growth and prosperity, which is what the president is focusing on.
“And I told the president, I’m back at home, here to help and ready to help. It’s my country. I love my country, and I’m ready to help.”
Adesina also offered to support the Tinubu administration in any capacity, stressing that his willingness to serve was driven by his commitment to Nigeria rather than the pursuit of a political appointment.
He said, “Well, you know, I’m fully able to help Nigeria in any capacity. I’ve always had that. You know, my heart is always at home. And in any capacity that His Excellency feels I can help, I can help in anything.
“I’m not looking for a job. I’m not looking for anything. It’s my country. I have a duty, an obligation, and a responsibility to do so, and I will.”
During the meeting, Adesina also briefed Tinubu on the AfDB’s financing for Nigeria during his tenure.
He said the bank provided about $7 billion to the country between 2015 and 2025, representing approximately 63 per cent of its total financing to Nigeria since it began operations in the country in 1971.
Adesina completed his tenure as AfDB president in August 2025 and was succeeded by Mr Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania the following month.
Before leading the bank, he served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
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