The House of Represenatives has thrown its weight behind the outgoing minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, to clinch the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The House’s unanimous decision at plenary yesterday followed a motion sponsored by Hon Munir Baba Dan’Agundi on the need to support Adesina’s candidacy in the election for the AfDB’s top position.

In a lead debate, Dan’Agundi told the House that Adesina has been shortlisted along with seven other candidates vying for the position from different countries, adding that if the leadership of the continental bank is not carefully chosen, the much expected poverty eradication in the next decade may not be realised.

He said that the sterling and academic qualities of the outgoing minister, coupled with his experience of working in Anglophone and Francophone countries and his tremendous passion to help eradicate poverty through reduction of unemployment among Nigerian youths, make him fit for the job. He also drew the attention of his colleagues to the various endorsements of Adesina for the position by President Goodluck Jonathan, the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s allied countries and stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

The motion was subsequently seconded and unanimously adopted by members present. Meanwhile the AfDB presidential election will be held tomorrow, May 28, during the ongoing 50th Annual Meeting of the bank in Abidjan, Cote D’ivoire.