The President of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, called for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for Africans and said debt relief would help African economies recover faster and better from the pandemic.
Speaking on February 8 at a virtual event held in his honor as the Year of the Year Outgoing African African Leadership Magazine, the Bank President warned that until the coronavirus was controlled in any part of the world, no one would be safe.
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel – it turns out it’s a very long tunnel. I am very confident that African economies will rebound over the next two years, but the speed of the recovery will depend on ensuring that Africa receives enough vaccines for its people, ”Adesina said.
“The world must not hurt Africa on access to vaccines,” he added.
He also said that significant debt relief would be essential to accelerate the recovery of African economies after the crisis. COVID-19 crisis.
“To recover faster, Africa will need a significant debt relief from bilateral and official creditors,” he said at the virtual event attended by Douye Diri, governor of the Nigerian State of Bayelsa, and Benoy Berry, President of Contec Global Worldwide.
Adesina added: “While developed countries have spent trillions of dollars on fiscal stimulus, Africa does not have such resources. Paying for vaccines is already adding to the already high debt burden. “
A highlight of the conversation was Adesina’s induction into the magazine’s African Leadership Hall of Fame for “raising the bar for performance” in Africa.
African Leadership Magazine President Ken Giami said the African Development Bank had recorded exceptional achievements in 2020 under President Adesina and had “infected” Africa with optimism.
Giami said: “ALM is very proud of the President’s contribution as he has raised the performance bar for future African winners of the year. Indeed, its award was a call to greater service to the people, especially at a time when Africa needed real leadership. “
Adesina pledged that the African Development Bank, together with its partners, will continue to lead Africa’s recovery and development after the pandemic, with a focus on youth, women and healthcare.
“Together, we will create new opportunities for African youth and unleash a youth-based wealth system for Africa. Together we will ensure that funding is provided to African women, ”he said in his concluding remarks.
He stressed: “Together, we will support Africa to build a world-class and quality health care infrastructure, while also ensuring that the continent develops its industrial pharmaceutical and vaccine production”.
African leaders who have already won the African Leadership Magazine The African of the Year award includes former Liberian President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011); Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim (2012); former vice president of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar (2013); former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete (2014); Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist Mo Dewji (2016); and President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame (2017).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact:
Emeka Anuforo
Communication and External Relations Department
African development bank
Email: [email protected]
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (Automatic document feeder) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Present on the ground in 41 African countries with a field office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.
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