Nigeria's Buhari Backs Agri. Minister For Afdb Presidency

Nigeria's President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has thrown his support behind the candidature of Agriculture Minister Akingwunmi Adesina for the African Development Bank (AfDB) president.



"General Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect of Nigeria, has requested the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the candidacy of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as the next president of the African Development Bank (AfDB)," spokesman Garba Shehu said in a Tuesday statement.



Adesina is contesting for the AfDB president alongside seven other candidates.



All of the hopefuls have submitted profiles indicating their interest in the top job, currently occupied by Dr. Donald Kaberuka of Rwanda, who was elected in July 2005 and was re-elected in May 2010.



The new AfDB president will be elected on May 28 during the bank's annual meeting in Ivory Coast from May 25-29.



Buhari said his support for Adesina was beyond his being a Nigerian.



"General Buhari has communicated his backing of Dr. Adesina's candidacy to the Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, who is the current chairperson of the ECOWAS," the statement said.



"Dr. Adesina has a proven track record in a career that predates his position as Nigeria's Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development," Buhari asserted.



He added that 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.



"Dr. Adesina is also an agricultural development expert with 24 years of experience in developing and managing successful agricultural programs across Africa," the statement said.



Since its inception in 1964, the AfDB has had six presidents and one interim president.



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