The AfDB president, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, said in 2017, the Bank accelerated the scale and delivery of its lending and achieved the highest disbursement ever in its history with over 7.2 billion dollars.
“The challenges ahead of Africa are immense, and the need for faster growth is even more urgent than ever before. Therefore, we cannot rest on our oars,” he said.
Adesina called for collective action to scale-up implementation of Africa’s development, noting that a faster-paced development was what the continent needed.
“We have just 12 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This is not a clock ticking, It is an alarm bell for the world and the bell is ringing louder and louder.
“The Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved by a ‘business as usual’ attitude and they will not be realised globally unless Africa achieves them completely and comprehensively,” he said.
Adesina said all the countries of the Southern region had a great opportunity to accelerate inclusive growth in the next few years and that the African Development Bank would be with them on this journey.
According to AfDB data, the Bank’s operations are transforming the lives of millions of Africans.
The figures for 2010-2017 shows 18 million Africans benefitted from new electricity connections and 57 million Africans benefitted from improvements in agriculture.
In the same period, 420,000 small businesses were provided with financial services, while 83 million Africans benefitted from improved access to transport and 49 million Africans benefitted from better access to water and sanitation.
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