Jonathan: Adesina, Oteh’s Appointments Show We Had World Class Economic Team

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has congratulated Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Ms. Arunma Oteh who were recently appointed into high positions at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank respectively, arguing that the development serves as  testimony to the fact that his administration had a good economic team that managed the affairs of the country.

Akinwumi, who was Jonathan’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, last week assumed duty as the President of the AfDB while Oteh, who was the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was appointed Treasurer and Vice-President of the World Bank.

In separate letters of congratulatory messages to both Adesina and Oteh which Jonathan personally signed, the former president described them as high achievers and Nigeria’s worthy ambassadors.


On Adesina’s choice as AfDB chief, Jonathan said: “Given your exemplary record of performance, while serving as the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in my cabinet, I have no doubt that you will deploy your energy and the bank’s resources to ensure that Africa experiences a new era of accelerated development.”

Speaking further, Jonathan said: “You were not only a critical voice in my economic team, you also walked the talk and earned the praise of our countrymen and women, by ensuring that Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in food production became achievable dream.

He said: “I am particularly pleased with your emergence as the AfDB boss; a development, I believe, has come as a reward for having served your country meritoriously,” the former president said, adding that “It also attests to the fact that: my administration had a good team that managed the affairs of the country.”

Similarly, the former president praised Oteh for her profound knowledge of capital markets, describing her as being conversant with the challenges of the economies of emerging markets.

Jonathan said: “I am delighted that you are going to your new job, fresh from the experience of having led the recovery and growth initiatives of the Nigerian Bourse in the wake of the decline, occasioned by recent global economic recession and financial crisis.

“I am particularly pleased that you are being rewarded and elevated on the world stage, after serving your country meritoriously, at a time I was the president. This is a clear testimony to your capacity, high integrity, and tenacity of purpose. It is also a vindication of the decision of my administration to stand by you, believing in your abilities and competence, even when questions were being raised in some quarters over our choice.

“I am convinced that the experience you gathered as Director-General of SEC gave you deep insights on how to tackle the peculiar challenges of a developing nation. The World Bank can draw from this to ensure that its future partnerships with emerging economies in Africa and other parts of the world are anchored on policies that will lead to sustained growth and development, which is a sine qua non for lifting millions of people in the developing world out of mass poverty.”