President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, are said to have thrown their weight behind the election of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister for the Presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB) because of the unprecedented innovations that the minister has introduced into the country since his choice in 2011.

Presidency sources confirmed on Friday to Vanguard that both leaders were very proud of Adesina’s contributions to the growth of agriculture in Nigeria and Africa, where he has served in no fewer than 15 countries on the continent before coming to Nigeria as a minister.

The source said: “The Presidency believes that for now, there is no candidate more qualified than Adesina to vie for the AfDB Presidency given his outstanding achievements in Nigeria, Africa and America.

“That was why even the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, who is also very conversant with Adesina’s track record of service around the continent has thrown his weight behind him to clinch the AfDB job and be able to replicate the fantastic job he has been doing in Nigeria to other African countries,” the presidential aide said.

In an interview with Saturday Vanguard, the minister said that his interest in the AfDB job was to enable him to offer service to the African continent and reduce poverty which has been very prevalent in many countries.

“I am not looking for work but I want to offer my service to Africa, knowing that I am eminently qualified and with the right vision to change the situation in Africa for the benefit of the people,” the 55-year-old minister said.

Adesina said that under his leadership in AfDB, Africa would witness a new approach in tackling its development challenges.

“Under my leadership, the bank will certainly bring hope and measurable development to the people and many will come to learn from the institution,” he said.