By Emmanuel Nduka
Former President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has been appointed Chairperson of Botswana’s Diamonds for Development Fund, a major initiative created by the Botswana government and De Beers Group to drive economic diversification, job creation, and long-term national development through diamond wealth.
Dr. Adesina, a globally respected development economist with nearly 40 years of experience, officially assumes the role on June 15, 2026. During his tenure at the African Development Bank, he increased the bank’s capital from $93 billion to $318 billion, launched the Africa Investment Forum which mobilised over $225 billion in investment interests, and introduced the “High 5s” strategy that reportedly impacted more than 565 million Africans.
Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Kenewendo, described his appointment as a major step toward transforming Botswana’s diamond resources into broader economic opportunities for citizens.
Reacting to the appointment, Dr. Adesina said: “It is not only diamonds that should shine, the lives of the people of Botswana must also shine.”
The Diamonds for Development Fund is expected to become a global model for using natural resource wealth to create sustainable prosperity for future generations.
Dr. Adesina is a recipient of AFRIHeritage’s prestigious African Lifetime Achievement Award.
