The new president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Sidi Ould Tah, said he will focus on reforms, strengthening partnerships and empowering youths and women across Africa in his first 100 days in office.

He made this known in his inaugural speech on Monday in Abidjan, pledging that the bank would move with urgency to reposition itself as a responsive institution capable of addressing Africa’s pressing development challenges.

He listed his four urgent priorities as listening with intent to stakeholders, launching a fast-track reform agenda, deepening partnerships and accelerating real solutions for inclusive growth.

According to him, listening to shareholders, partners, clients and staff will ensure that the bank’s agenda reflects real-world needs and ambitions.

He said that reforms would aim at boosting operational speed, sharpening execution and dismantling bureaucratic bottlenecks that often slow down delivery.

The new AfDB boss added that partnerships with African and global institutions, as well as private sector actors, would be deepened to mobilise resources at scale.

He said, “Empowering youths and women is central. It requires finance, mentorship and technology. By supporting our talents, we will build a bright future.”

The AfDB president further pledged to accelerate practical solutions to expand access to finance, create jobs and unlock Africa’s industrial and financial potential.

He assured that the bank under his leadership would bridge divides between regions, public and private actors, and between ambition and execution.

He said, “We will be the bank that bridges divides between regions, between ambitions and execution, between public and private, and between urgency and bureaucracy. The time for delivery has begun. Together, let us transform Africa’s promise into prosperity.”

According to Mr Tah, Africa is young, ambitious and restless with potential.

He noted, “This is the energy that should be harnessed as the engine of our transformation. It is with this conviction that I approach my new responsibilities. I intend to begin this journey anchored in humility, with a spirit of consultation and a commitment to pragmatism. The path ahead requires not only vision but also credibility that is built through early signals that the bank is attentive, responsive and capable of setting priorities that matter.”

Born on December 31, 1964, in Mederdra, Mauritania, the new AfDP president holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis and a Diplôme d’Études Approfondies (DEA) in Economics from the University of Paris VII.

He also has a postgraduate degree in economics and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Nouakchott.

Mr Tah was elected as the ninth president of the African Development Bank Group in May 2025 after securing 76.18 per cent of the total votes and 72.37 per cent of regional votes in the third round of voting, defeating four other candidates.

He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina.

(NAN)