Speaking during a breakfast meeting with journalists on Monday, Adesina described his presidency as a demanding yet incredibly fulfilling journey.

“Leading the AfDB is not a job but a mission,” he said emphasising the all-encompassing nature of the role.

He highlighted the bank’s milestones achieved under his leadership, including the bank’s largest-ever capital increase, which grew from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion, and the successful replenishment of the African Development Fund, which raised $8.9 billion. These efforts, he noted, have positively impacted 500 million Africans.

Adesina also highlighted the success of High 5s, the bank’s core development priorities launched at the start of his tenure in 2015. These priorities, Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa, have touched the lives of over 565 million people.

Remarking on the transformation that had taken place in the bank under his leadership, he said, “The African Development Bank you have today is not the African Development Bank you used to have. This is a global institution now.”

He further advised his successor, “The responsibility of that leader is to build on the past, to look far into the future, and to find within themselves what courage it takes to stand up for Africa’s interest. To make sure that Africa’s voice is never silenced on issues that matter globally and where it matters globally.”

The AfDB outgoing president appreciated the media for their continuous support throughout his presidency and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, describing it as “the greatest honour of his life”.

The Institutional Support for Digital Payments and e-Commerce Policies for Cross-Border Trade Project (IDECT) will evaluate policy gaps in the digital trade and e-commerce ecosystems of Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Uganda, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The project will see to the implementation of regional training and capacity-building programs focusing on cross-border e-payment and e-commerce for governments, private sectors, and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). These programs are expected to reach 600 participants, with 60% being women and youth. Additionally, a certified gender-sensitive e-learning training program addressing the unique challenges faced by women in digital trade and e-commerce, will be developed and disseminated to 2,500 participants, of whom 60% will be women.

The agreement between African Development Fund and Smart Africa was signed on Tuesday, 25 April, a day ahead of  the 2023 Transform Africa Summit which takes place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, from 26-28 April.

African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa Region Leïla Mokaddem, described the IDECT as a pivotal step towards strengthening Africa’s digital trade and e-commerce landscape.

“This initiative will bolster the development of harmonized e-payment policies, capacity building, and gender-sensitive frameworks, ultimately fostering a digital trade ecosystem that generates employment opportunities across the continent,” she said.

Lacina Koné, CEO of Smart Africa, said: “The IDECT project demonstrates our commitment to fostering digital transformation and economic growth in Africa. By addressing policy gaps and promoting gender-sensitive training, we are laying the foundation for a thriving digital trade and e-commerce ecosystem.”