Tinubu hails Mauritania’s president, Ghazouani on Tah’s emergence as AfDB president

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania following the election of Sidi Ould Tah as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

Tah, a former Mauritanian Finance Minister and most recently Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), was elected as the ninth AfDB President during the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

According to a statement by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu had a phone conversation with President Ghazouani, commending the transparent process that led to Tah’s emergence as AFDB’s leader.

The statement reads:

“President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania on the election of Dr Sidi Ould Tah as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

“Tah was the former Mauritanian Finance Minister and Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

“In a telephone conversation from Lagos with the Mauritanian leader on Thursday afternoon, after Tah’s election at the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, President Tinubu commended the transparent process that led to the emergence of the former Mauritanian Finance Minister.

“Tah will succeed Dr Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, who will step down in September after completing two five-year terms.

“President Tinubu believed that Dr Tah would bring a wealth of experience to the role, given his track record in former positions.

“President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong partnership with the AfDB, emphasising its status as the institution’s largest shareholder among its member countries, comprising 54 African nations and 27 non-African states.

“The President restated his commitment to working closely with the incoming AfDB president to advance shared priorities, including infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, energy access, and climate resilience.

“Nigeria recently approved a $500 million capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) in May 2025, extending the fund’s operations by another 15 years.

“Established in 1976, the NTF is a special AfDB fund fully financed by Nigeria to support development projects across Africa.

“This renewed commitment underscores Nigeria’s continued dedication to the Bank’s mission of driving inclusive growth and poverty reduction on the continent.” [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>>