The search for a new president of Africa's top financial institution, the African Development Bank (AfDB), is gathering momentum.

The current head, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who is serving his second five-year term, will step down from the position on August 31, 2025.

Under his leadership, the AfDB has largely prioritized promoting economic and social development on the continent.

It is a vision that Adesina told DW he has passionately pursued during his tenure and one he believes has helped stabilize many African economies over the past five years.

"Despite the headwinds that Africa has faced globally in terms of global inflation, but also in terms of rising debt levels and depreciation of currencies and of course climate change, Africa continues to post very resilient growth," he said.

Eleven out of the 20 fastest-growing economies in the world last year came from Africa, according to the AfDB, and Adesina says this shows the bank is doing something right.

However, he told DW that there are still challenges that require real solutions.

"We still need to provide a lot of concessional financing to African countries because there is still a tapering effect of the Covid-19 situation that many of the countries are still coping with," Adesina said.

The five candidates seeking to take over from Adesina includeSenegal's Amadou Hott, who served as Senegal's Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation (2019-2022), Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo from........

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