By Emmanuel Nduka
In a powerful mix of reflection and conviction, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has declared that Africa’s time is no longer in the future, but firmly in the present, describing the continent as an “investable reality” rather than a distant promise.
The immediate-past President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) made this assertion in Accra, Ghana, after receiving the African Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th African Heritage Awards, where he was recognized for decades of transformative contributions to agriculture, economic development, and sustainability across Africa.
The honour was presented by Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, who himself, is a recipient of the prestigious awards. Held at a ceremony attended by prominent African leaders and changemakers, Adesina seized the moment to reflect a growing momentum for a more self-reliant and investment-driven African continent.
Adesina did not only use the moment to reflect on his journey, but to also project a bold vision for Africa’s future – one anchored on investment, innovation, and confidence in the continent’s capabilities. He stressed that his service to Africa has always been rooted in purpose rather than recognition, declaring, “I do not serve Africa for applause –I serve Africa as a mission. Serving Africa is a lifetime calling”.
Backing his optimism with data, Adesina challenged long-held narratives that portray Africa as merely a continent of untapped potential. Citing projections from the International Monetary Fund, he noted that Africa is expected to record about 4.2 per cent GDP growth in 2026, placing it among the fastest-growing regions globally. According to him, this growth is not a temporary rebound but evidence of deeper structural transformation. “This is not cyclical recovery. This is structural revaluation,” he said. “Africa is not just growing. Africa is compounding,” he added.
He further pointed to the rise of major African corporations such as the Dangote Group, MTN Group, Safaricom, and Jumia as evidence of the continent’s increasing economic strength, resilience, and global competitiveness. These, he noted, are not isolated success stories but signals of a broader shift already underway.
A key highlight of his address was the need to fundamentally rethink how Africa is positioned in the global economy. Adesina argued that the continent must move away from dependency on aid and instead embrace structured, large-scale investment. He underscored Africa’s vast reserves of critical minerals, estimated at about 30 per cent of global supply, yet lamented that the continent attracts less than five per cent of global investment in that space. “That gap is not risk. It is mispricing,” he said.
To help bridge this gap, he spotlighted the Global Africa Investment Summit (GAIS), a platform he co-founded to connect African sovereign assets with institutional investors worldwide. The initiative, he explained, is designed to unlock long-term capital for key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and digital systems. “This is not aid. This is not charity. This is not sentiment. This is alpha,” he declared.
Heritage Times HT reports that Adesina’s recognition comes on the back of a distinguished career marked by far-reaching reforms and measurable impact. As Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, he led initiatives that reached over 15 million farmers while reforming the fertilizer distribution system to eliminate corruption. During his tenure at the AfDB, he oversaw a significant expansion of the bank’s capital base and drove projects that impacted more than 500 million people across the continent, particularly in areas such as energy access, infrastructure, and food security.
In an emotional conclusion, Adesina dedicated the award to Nigeria, describing it as the foundation of his journey and a constant source of strength throughout his career. “Nigeria gave me my beginning… it gave me opportunity when opportunity was not guaranteed,” he said. “This honour returns home – not as repayment, but as gratitude,” he added.
He extended the sentiment to the entire continent, reaffirming his identity and lifelong commitment to Africa. “I will live as an African. I will die as an African… and I dedicate this honour to Africa – not as she was, but as she is destined to be”.
Perhaps the most defining message of the evening was his insistence that Africa’s rise is no longer a matter of speculation but an unfolding reality. “The question is no longer whether Africa will ascend. The question is whether the world is ready for the Africa that has already ascended,” he concluded.
