Akinwunmi Adesina, former African Development Bank (AfDB) President, has offered to support Nigeria’s development in any capacity, saying he is ready to contribute his experience and expertise to the country following the end of his tenure at the continental development finance institution.
Adesina made the offer after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Speaking to State House correspondents, he said the meeting provided an opportunity to brief the president on his 10-year leadership of the AfDB and the bank’s financial support for Nigeria during that period.
“I’m back at home, here to help and ready to help. It’s my country. I love my country, and I’m ready to help,” Adesina said.
He stressed that his offer was motivated by a sense of responsibility to Nigeria, not a search for a government appointment.
“I’m fully able to help Nigeria in any capacity. I’ve always had that. You know, my heart is always at home. And in any capacity that His Excellency feels I can help, I can help in anything. I’m not looking for a job. I’m not looking for anything. I’m just here to help,” he said.
“It’s my country. I have a duty, an obligation, and a responsibility to do so, and I will.”
Adesina acknowledged that the economic reforms introduced by Tinubu’s administration were beginning to yield results but argued that the next phase should prioritise structural transformation, economic expansion and shared prosperity.
He said the focus should move beyond economic stabilisation towards changes capable of supporting sustainable growth and improving living standards.
“Now, that’s just the beginning of the work. I think the most critical thing is the president realises, and everybody knows that being a dentist is a very difficult job, but you have to also now move from the issue of the reforms and stabilisation straight into structural transformation and also growth and prosperity, which is what the president is focusing on,” he said.
Adesina pointed to increased foreign exchange availability, rising portfolio investment and a downward trend in inflation as signs of progress. However, he acknowledged that the cost of goods and services remained high.
He also cited stable and positive outlooks from rating agencies as evidence of a change in international perceptions of Nigeria.
“These are very, very important, difficult reforms, but they are beginning to bear some fruits, quite some fruits,” he said.
He maintained that the gains from stabilisation would need to translate into broader economic transformation, growth and prosperity.
During the meeting, Adesina also briefed Tinubu on the AfDB’s development financing for Nigeria during his two terms as president.
He said the bank provided approximately $7 billion in financing to Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, compared with about $11.1 billion in cumulative financing since it began operations in the country in 1971.
Adesina said the president was pleased with the support provided by the institution during his tenure.
The financing covered development priorities at a time when Nigeria was pursuing initiatives to strengthen infrastructure, agriculture and economic development.
