Tanzania has paid glowing tribute to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, in recognition of his impactful leadership and substantial contribution to the country’s socio-economic development.
During a two-day official visit to Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan hailed Dr. Adesina as “a visionary leader and tireless son of Africa” whose legacy will be remembered for transforming the continent’s development trajectory. She cited a range of Bank-financed projects that have significantly advanced Tanzania’s infrastructure and regional integration.
Notable among these initiatives is the construction of a new international airport and the expansive highway encircling Dodoma, Tanzania’s administrative capital. The AfDB also played a crucial role in funding the modern Standard Gauge Railway that will link Tanzania with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo strengthening regional trade and mobility.
Since the Bank began operations in Tanzania in 1971, it has invested over $9 billion in various sectors, with $4.73 billion more than half disbursed under Adesina’s leadership over the last decade. Investments have covered vital areas such as agriculture, energy, transport, and water, making the AfDB one of Tanzania’s most dependable development partners.
President Suluhu expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Tanzanian people, acknowledging the Bank’s enduring support. “Your visionary leadership has brought significant socio-economic change to Tanzania and across Africa,” she told Dr. Adesina.
In a symbolic gesture of appreciation, President Suluhu announced the renaming of the Dodoma Outer Ring Road to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Road. The $214.69 million project was co-financed by the AfDB ($138 million), the Africa Growing Together Fund ($42 million), and the Tanzanian government ($34.69 million).
Dr. Adesina, who was accompanied by his wife Grace Yemisi Adesina, expressed deep appreciation for the recognition. As he prepares to hand over leadership to incoming AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania, his legacy in Tanzania and across Africa remains firmly cemented in the infrastructure and institutions he helped build.
