Zambia’s Development Finance Expert, Dr. Samuel Maimbo, has launched an audacious bid to replace Nigerian economist, Akinwumi Adesina, as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Maimbo who formally announced his candidacy for President of the AfDB on Friday during an event organized by ZANACO Bank at Latitude 15 Hotel in Lusaka, emphasized the need for bold, results-driven leadership to propel Africa’s economic transformation.

While speaking at the event, Maimbo who is the Vice President for Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank, stressed that Africa stood at a critical juncture and requires decisive leadership at AfDB to accelerate economic growth and job creation.

“The AfDB needs bold, results-driven leadership unafraid to make tough decisions. I am the man for that job,” Maimbo declared.

He further underscored the need to fast-track employment for one billion Africans by supporting key industries that enhance livelihoods and drive prosperity.

Also speaking at the event, Zambia’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Mulambo Haimbe, commended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) for endorsing Maimbo as their sole candidate for the AfDB presidency.

“This is a tremendous milestone not just for Zambia but for the entire region. We must unite in supporting Dr. Maimbo to strengthen AfDB’s role in Africa’s economic transformation,” Haimbe said.

He highlighted the importance of AfDB in advancing regional integration, infrastructure development, and tackling poverty, climate change, and youth unemployment.

ZANACO Managing Director, Mukwandi Chibesakunda who also spoke, described Maimbo’s candidacy as a beacon of hope for Africa, praising his vision for a self-sustaining and inclusive continent.

“His commitment to inclusive development aligns with Zambia’s national, regional, and continental goals. His leadership could unlock renewed investments in marginalized communities, youth, and women,” Chibesakunda said.

She noted that closing Africa’s gender gap could add US$2.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP, citing World Bank estimates.

The country’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, urged all stakeholders to rally behind Maimbo, emphasizing that Africa needed higher growth rates to navigate current challenges and seize future opportunities.

The event had in attendance high profile guests including former Vice President, Enock Kavindele, Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, Bank of Zambia Governor, Danny Kalyalya, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, and private sector executives.

The AfDB election, scheduled for May 29, 2025, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, will determine the next president of the 82-member institution tasked with driving sustainable development in Africa.

Maimbo is among eight candidates vying for the presidency.

Others are:

1. Abbas Mahamat Tolli (Chad)

2. Rabah Arezki (Algeria)

3. Amadou Hott (Senegal)

4. Albert Zeufack (Cameroon)

5. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa)

6. Romuald Wadagni (Benin)

7. Ousmane Kane (Mauritania)

Former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has told President Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger Republic to refrain from making infantile and puerile allegations that Nigeria is conniving with France and the Lakurawa terrorists to destabilize his country.

Tchiani had, during an interview with Radio-Télévision du Niger on December 25, accused the Nigerian government of using the sect, with the help of foreign security forces notably from France, to wreck havoc in his country, insinuating that President Bola Tinubu had been paid by the France government to allow their military to establish a base in Borno State.

He also alleged that Nigeria, acting in collaboration with the French government and the terrorist group, was responsible for an attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.

But in a statement he posted on his official X handle on Sunday, Fani-Kayode who is popularly called FFK, said Nigeria does not need the help of France and thr Lakurawa terrorist to destabilize Niger Republic.

FFK insisted that Nigeria is not part of the western powers sponsoring terrorists organizations to wretch havoc on the West African sub region.

“If Nigeria wanted to destabilise Niger Republic, I do not believe that we would need France or any terrorist organisation to do so,” the politician wrote.

He noted that on the contrary, western powers are the ones behind terrorist organizations operating in the region and other parts of Africa.

“I have maintained that the western powers are behind the terrorist groups that have plagued the West African sub region over the last 15 years and for the last ten years I have publicly stated this and given my reasons.

“I am equally certain that Nigeria, being one of the major victims of these terrorist organisations, has had no part in it and that no Nigerian President, past or present, has indulged in such grave and dangerous actions.”

He went on to advice Tchiani against provoking Nigeria with unguarded and infantile utterances capable of stoking Nigeria against his country.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, would do well to be careful not to provoke our wrath with his absurd assertions and remain mindful of the fact that the defence budget for his country, Mali and Burkina Faso COMBINED is not up to 25% of Nigeria’s.

“Tchiani’s grave allegations that President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bought by the French to destabilise Niger Republic, that our Government is jointly sponsoring a terrorist group with France to do same and that there are French military bases in Nigeria are infantile, puerile, mendacious and asinine.

“It is a squalid attempt by the Nigerien Head of State to sow the seeds of dissention in our country, to alienate our people from constituted authority, to divide our people and to undermine the Tinubu administration,” he added.

“It is also highly provocative and the FG should consider the possibility of taking other more extreeme measures if this reckless provocation continues.

“We are under no obligation to show restraint when we are being undermined and maligned.