A Voice Lost?’: Revisiting Nigeria’s Struggle for Africanity in the African Development Bank before the Era of Akinwnnmi Adesina

Abstract

Since the inception of the African Development Bank in 1963, Nigeria has been its major voice and contributor. However, very little is known about the Bank amongst Nigerians particularly the efforts and sacrifices the country has made to ensuring its survival and continued operation. Against this backdrop, this paper examines Nigeria’s efforts in defending the African identity of the Bank in the face of bourgeoning external influences. The paper argues thar contrary to the common views of ‘unguarded charity’ expressed by many Nigerians about the country’s benevolent commitments in Africa, the defense of Africanity in the Bank was an important demonstration of African solidarity and Pan Africanism to ensure collective progress of not just Nigerians but all Africans and the entire black race as a people. It was not only borne out of the altruistic spirit of solidarity and Pan Africanism but, also, to keep Africa safe from the entanglement of the Western imperialism and neo-colonization. Although the country’s pan African voice in the Bank currently appears to be overshadowed by the huge presence and influence of external powers, it is possibly not dead as a Nigerian in the person Dr Akinwunmi Adesina is currently at the helm of affairs of the Bank. The paper is a qualitative research. It adopts a narrative historical method, and uses both primary and secondary sources of information.