Abidjan: The new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, announced his strategic priorities for the first 100 days in office, emphasizing reforms, partnerships, and the empowerment of youths and women across Africa. In his inaugural speech delivered on Monday, Dr. Tah pledged to reposition the bank as a responsive institution capable of addressing the continent’s pressing development challenges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Tah outlined his four urgent priorities: actively listening to stakeholders, launching a fast-track reform agenda, deepening partnerships, and accelerating solutions for inclusive growth. Emphasizing the importance of aligning the bank’s agenda with real-world needs, he highlighted the significance of listening to shareholders, partners, clients, and staff.
He stated that the reform efforts would focus on boosting operational speed, enhancing execution, and overcoming bureaucratic hurdles that impede progress. Dr. Tah also underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships with African and global institutions, as well as private sector actors, to mobilize resources on a large scale.
Dr. Tah affirmed the centrality of empowering youths and women through finance, mentorship, and technology, asserting that supporting African talents is key to building a brighter future. He committed to accelerating practical solutions to expand access to finance, create jobs, and unlock the continent’s industrial and financial potential.
The new AfDB president assured stakeholders that under his leadership, the bank would bridge divides between regions, public and private actors, and between ambition and execution. He stated, “We will be the bank that bridges divides between regions, between ambitions and execution, between public and private, between urgency and bureaucracy.”
Dr. Tah emphasized Africa’s youthful and ambitious nature, recognizing it as an energy that should drive transformation. He expressed his approach to his responsibilities with humility, consultation, and a commitment to pragmatism, aiming to establish the bank as attentive, responsive, and capable of setting meaningful priorities.
Born on December 31, 1964, in Mederdra, Mauritania, Dr. Tah holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis and a Dipl´me d’€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬°tudes Approfondies (DEA) in Economics from the University of Paris VII. His academic background also includes a post-graduate degree and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nouakchott.
Dr. Sidi Ould Tah was elected as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group in May 2025, securing 76.18 percent of the total votes and 72.37 percent of regional votes in the third round of voting, defeating four other candidates.