Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina today was sworn in as the eighth president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the second term.

Adesina was re-elected last week Thursday during the bank’s lender’s board and governors meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

In his inaugural speech, he promised that the AfDB would be more resilient in focusing on the people, institutions and sustainable development in the continent.

“Today, a rainbow stretches from the 81 member countries of the African Development Bank across the deep blue skies of Africa. The future beckons us for a more developed Africa and a much stronger and resilient African Development Bank.

“We have collectively charted a new path for Africa. We have achieved collectively impressive results.

“Our focus will be on institutions, people, delivery and sustainability. Together we win for Africa,” Adesina said.

He urged members of the bank to collectively work toward the progress of Africa and her populace.

“Yet again, let us move forward, driven by the power of our mission, inspired by the primacy of our vision and emboldened by the strength of our togetherness,” Adesina said.

The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by the newly appointed Chair of the Board of Governors, Ghanaian Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta, who administered the Oath Office.

Ofori-Atta in his remarks bestowed trust on Adesina urging him and the bank to set global standards of excellence.

“We need to continue to steer and direct the Bank’s efforts to setting global standards of excellence, integrity, commitment to service and responsiveness to the challenges of the continent.

“You earned a new mandate in a most historic fashion,” he said.

The first five years of Adesina’s reign, the bank rolled out its developmental priorities of which it termed as the High 5s: Light up and Power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.

These five projects birthed according to the president about 18 million Africans to have access to electricity, 15 million benefited from investor finance, 60 million enjoyed new access to water, 141 million people had improved agricultural technologies for food and 101 million people had access to improved transport from infrastructure.

Several presidents attended the virtual ceremony live and sent messages of support. They included Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the president of Liberia, George Weah, Alpha Conde of Guinea, Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Denis Sassou Nguesso of Republic of Congo. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Atiku Abubakar was also present.