President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday gave indication that he would retain the Minuster of Agriculture. Dr Akinwumi Adesina, when he canvassed public support for him as the next president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Buhari requested the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the candidacy of the Minister of Agriculture as the next president of AfDB.
Buhari communicated the choice to the Ghanaian president, John Mahama, who is the current chairperson of ECOWAS.
In a statement released in Abuja, on Tuesday, General Buhari said his support of Dr Adesina’s candidacy was not just because he is a Nigerian.
“Dr Adesina has a proven track record in a career that predates his position as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,” General Buhari said.
He added that Dr Adesina had years of experience of working in Francophone and Anglophone countries, and a passion to help eradicate poverty in Africa by reducing unemployment and inequality among African youths.