The 51st Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the 42nd Meetings of the Board of Governors of the African Development Fund (ADF) wound up on Friday, May 27, 2016 in Lusaka, Zambia, after five days of intense engagements on the Bank’s operations and development issues. Held on the theme, “Energy and Climate Change,” the meetings focused on critical African economic and development issues, election of new executive directors and the approval of policies, strategies and the Group’s 2015 audited accounts and operations programmes. “We welcome the unqualified opinion of the Bank’s external auditors on the financial statement ending December 31, 2015. We particularly welcome the good financial results despite the difficult global environment,” the Governors said in a statement. They commended the exceptional and innovative leadership of the Bank’s eighth elected President, Akinwumi Adesina, for his accomplishments since assuming office in September 2015. “We also endorse our Chair’s statement in congratulating President Adesina for his leadership and collaboration in ensuring the meetings are a success, and for the passion and vision for achievement and delivery that he has displayed in his first eight months in office,” the statement said.

The Meetings, which have been described as “phenomenal”, hosted more than 4,000 participants and some 6,000 virtual attendees, comprising Heads of State and Government and their delegations, Governors, Alternate Governors, members of the Boards of Directors, delegates, business leaders, and representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations, the media, observers, as well as Bank staff. Plastic Handheld MirrorProminent attendees at this year’s Annual Meetings included host President Edgar Lungu and his Vice-President, Inonge Wina; Interior Motion Sensor Ceiling LightPresidents Idriss Deby of Chad, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria. Best Flooring For Shore Houses

There were also several former Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers representing their Heads of State or Government. “This has been a phenomenal meeting. This huge participation and the presence of our political leaders is a clear signal that they support the important issues we are dealing with here,” said Adesina.  In line with the theme, the Bank’s transformational agenda encapsulated in the High 5 priorities – Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa, featured prominently in the various discussions and engagements. These were high-level events on key thematic development concerns of importance to Africa including, energy, nutritional, climate change, ICT for a smart Africa, jobs for young people as well as affirmative action for women in Africa. Others include regional integration, water and sanitation, green growth, South-South cooperation and preparations for the UN climate talks (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Governors fully endorsed the High 5s and expressed satisfaction with the progress made towards operationalizing them. They were particularly impressed with the recent approval of the Bank Group Strategies for the New Deal on Energy for Africa and the Jobs for Youth in Africa and called for their speedy implementation. Noting that these strategies and initiatives are focused on inclusive and green growth, the governors urged the institution to continue its operational focus on infrastructure, regional economic integration, private sector development, governance and accountability, skills and technology, as well as fragility and gender issues. The next Annual Meetings will be held at Ahmedabad, about 775 kilometres west of New Delhi, the capital of India, from May 22-26, 2017. Thereafter, South Korea (Busan) will host the Meetings from May 21-25, 2018; Equatorial Guinea (Malabo) from May 20-24, 2019; Abidjan from May 25-29, 2020 and Ghana (Accra) from May 24-28, 2021. /am Official hashtag: #AfDBAM2016  Closing Speech - AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina at the African Development Bank Group 2016 Annual Meetings  ZambiaIndiaEnergy & PowerClimate ChangeHuman Capital DevelopmentPartnershipsAgriculture & Agro-industriesPresident's Corner Felix Njoku Subscribe Email alerts E-newsletters Follow on Twitter

Chipo (20) has an older brother and younger sister, and lives in a high-density, very poor area of Harare called Epworth.  Chipo’s father was unemployed, so she was only able to complete her education to Form 2 (age 14).  Leaving school with no qualifications meant that it was almost impossible for Chipo to find formal employment, and she was vulnerable to being trafficked for exploitative labour or commercial sex work. Chipo’s aunt was a tailoring instructor at Oasis Zimbabwe, so Chipo moved to Kambazuma to stay with her aunt and join the tailoring course.  Sadly Chipo’s aunt then died, so Chipo had to move back to Epworth and travel for 2 hours each way, every day, to continue the course.  She worked hard and enjoyed learning to sew many different items, such as curtains, clothes and bags.  Chipo’s confidence in herself also began to increase. After graduating from Oasis in 2010, Chipo was only able to use her sewing machine when her family had money to fuel their generator, as there is no municipal electricity in her area of Epworth.

Since she was not able to produce items in large numbers to sell at home, Chipo began applying for jobs, and secured employment at a clothing factory in downtown Harare in January 2011. Chipo now works six days a week sewing seat covers and curtains.  She enjoys her job and has received high praise from her manager and colleagues, and is also able to work on her own customer orders in her lunch break.  Chipo’s salary helps to provide food for her family, as well as paying for school fees, medicines, new furniture, and for the family home to be repainted. From April – October 2011 Chipo returned to Oasis Zimbabwe to complete a course in setting up your own business, including skills such as budgeting, marketing and communication. Chipo was grateful that the Oasis course taught her how to manage her orders and income, how to talk to customers and how to be patient in her work.  She said, “I know everything I need to know now, to do this on my own.  I hope to save money to return to school and take my O’Level exams.”