The African Development Bank has recorded a remarkable 241.9% increase in its capital base over the past decade, rising from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2025.

This marks the largest financial expansion in the Bank’s history, positioning it for a major leadership transition this week.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting with pressmen on Monday, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, highlighted the institution’s achievements over the past decade, reflecting on its transformative growth and impact across the continent.

Describing his tenure as both demanding and deeply rewarding, Dr. Adesina emphasized the unwavering dedication needed to lead an institution of the Bank’s magnitude. He reflected on his presidency not as a job, but as a mission, underscoring the profound personal commitment he brought to his ten-year leadership.

“This is not a job. If anyone is looking for a job, please don’t take it. This is not a job. This is a mission,” he stated.

He went on to share how the demands of the role left him little time for anything else, saying, “As my wife Grace and staff would tell you, for ten years I have had no life. Completely zero. I worked every single day. Every single step.”

The press briefing marked the opening event of the Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings, taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from May 26 to May 30, where a new president will be elected to lead the institution.

Five candidates are vying to succeed Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank: Ms. Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa), Mr. Hott Amadou (Senegal), Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo (Zambia), Dr. Sidi Tah Ould (Mauritania), and Mr. Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad).

This week’s Annual Meetings are set to be the largest in AfDB’s history, with around 6,000 delegates from 91 countries expected to attend.

The gathering will bring together policymakers, private sector leaders, academics, civil society actors, development partners, and journalists to engage in high-level discussions on Africa’s economic trajectory and sustainable development priorities.

As Dr. Adesina prepares to step down on September 1, 2025, he assured stakeholders that the African Development Bank’s core mission will remain unchanged.

He affirmed that while leadership transitions, the Bank’s commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development across Africa will continue with the same strength and purpose.

“Leadership may change, but the mission remains. The Bank’s direction is clear, its resolve strong, and its commitment to Africa’s development unshakable,” he affirmed.

The successor to Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina will be elected on May 29, 2025, at the African Development Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.