By Peter Oyedele, Abuja

Former President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has reaffirmed his lifelong commitment to Africa’s development, dedicating his African Lifetime Achievement Award to Nigeria and the continent at large.

Adesina received the honour at the African Heritage Awards held in Accra over the weekend, where he described his service to Africa as “a lifetime calling.”

Speaking at the ceremony attended by John Dramani Mahama and other dignitaries, Adesina portrayed Africa as “a continent in motion,” stressing that its future is backed not just by optimism but by strong economic indicators.

Citing projections by the International Monetary Fund, he noted that Africa is expected to record about 4.2 per cent GDP growth in 2026, positioning it among the fastest-growing regions globally.

Highlighting the continent’s economic transformation, Adesina pointed to leading African enterprises such as Dangote Group, MTN Group, Safaricom, and Jumia as proof that Africa has evolved into an “investable reality.”

He also underscored Africa’s strategic role in the global energy transition, noting that the continent holds about 30 per cent of the world’s critical mineral reserves but attracts less than 5 per cent of global investment in the sector—an imbalance he described as a significant opportunity.

Adesina further highlighted the launch of the Global Africa Investment Summit, a platform he co-founded to connect African assets with global institutional investors, emphasising that sustainable development on the continent must be driven by long-term, structured investment rather than aid.

In an emotional conclusion, the development economist dedicated the award to Nigeria, acknowledging the support of former leaders including Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo in shaping his career. He also paid tribute to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a key mentor.

Adesina ended his remarks with a strong message of African pride, declaring: “Africa is not waiting to be discovered. Africa is already shaping the global future.”