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South Africa’s Tshabalala Announces Candidacy For African Development Bank Presidency

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South Africa’s Tshabalala Announces Candidacy For African Development Bank Presidency

By: Michael Mike

Former senior vice president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, has officially announced her candidacy for the presidency of the institution.

Tshabalala’s bid comes with the full support of the South African government, signalling confidence in her leadership potential and vision for the future of the continent.

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana said Tshabalala was an exceptional leader with a proven track record in finance, infrastructure, and economic development.

“Her extensive experience at the African Development Bank and beyond makes her the ideal candidate to lead the institution into a new era of financial resilience and impact-driven growth,” Godongwana said.

“South Africa fully supports her candidacy and believes that under her leadership, the AfDB will play an even greater role in accelerating Africa’s economic transformation and unlocking opportunities for all its people.”

Tshabalala will be bringing over three decades of experience in infrastructure finance, hybrid capital solutions, and economic development to the table. She has played a pivotal role in mobilising capital for Africa’s pressing development needs, leading the AfDB’s financial response during the COVID-19 pandemic and innovating funding mechanisms now adopted globally.

Her candidacy symbolises a commitment to a robust and agile AfDB that prioritises infrastructure development and economic opportunity for the continent.

Tshabalala, in a statement, said she had a bold vision to build a strong AfDB with “innovative financing” to infrastructure challenges in the continent.

She noted that: “Africa stands at a pivotal moment, and the African Development Bank must rise to meet the continent’s ambitions with bold, strategic action.”

She revealed that: “My vision is to build a financially strong, results-driven AfDB that prioritises infrastructure, expands innovative financing solutions, and strengthens partnerships to unlock Africa’s full economic potential. This is not just about investment—it’s about delivering real, lasting impact for African nations and their people.”

Tshabalala first joined the AfDB in 2018, rapidly ascending to the role of senior vice president in 2021, which she held until her resignation in January 2024. Before this, she held significant leadership roles at Old Mutual Employee Benefits, Standard Bank Group, and Transnet, gaining invaluable experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects.

Her tenure as CEO of the Industrial Development Group from 2006 to 2014 demonstrated her ability to drive investment across key sectors in Africa.

According to her, this candidacy transcends the quest for leadership; it embodies a promise to realise the AfDB’s mission of transforming lives across the continent.
Infrastructure development is set to be a cornerstone of her presidency.

Tshabalala emphasised that reliable infrastructure—roads, ports, railways, energy systems, and digital networks—is fundamental for sustainable economic growth. Drawing from her experience at Transnet, where she facilitated the expansion of critical logistics hubs, she understands that well-executed infrastructure initiatives can significantly boost long-term economic activity.

Her introduction of hybrid capital financing at the AfDB stands as a testament to her innovative approach. This financing mechanism enables multilateral development banks to attract private sector investments while maintaining financial stability, a method that has now found resonance with other global financial institutions. Her strategic vision includes expanding the use of such hybrid instruments to deepen the AfDB’s funding base, positioning it as a robust financier for transformative projects.

Beyond her core focus on infrastructure, Tshabalala advocates for gender equality and youth empowerment within the AfDB’s operational strategy. As a leading African woman, she is determined to ensure that policies and funding support opportunities for women entrepreneurs, young professionals, and small businesses, ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent.

The election for the next President of the African Development Bank is scheduled for 29 May 2025 during the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Abidjan, and Tshabalala is expected to active engage with stakeholders throughout Africa and beyond, sharing her vision for a financially resilient and impact-driven AfDB—a critical engine for sustainable growth.

South Africa’s Tshabalala Announces Candidacy For African Development Bank Presidency

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State


…Making it the 20th State to Benefit from the Support

By: Our Reporter

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Program, launched in Abuja in March 2024 to provide monthly support to vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities, has reached Yobe State—making it the 20th state to benefit from the initiative.
Since its inception, the program has covered Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto States before arriving in Yobe.
With generous support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and another industrialist who prefers to remain anonymous, assorted food items were delivered, bringing relief to many households, particularly those with disabilities.


The First Lady and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noted that donors provide two truckloads of food items to each beneficiary state for onward distribution. Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, she highlighted Yobe as a major beneficiary of RHI programs and interventions.
These include:

  • The Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economists Empowerment Program, which supported 500 women with ₦50,000 each.
  • The RHI Women Agricultural Support Scheme, where 20 women received ₦500,000 each.
  • A ₦68.9 million grant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Young Farmers Club.
  • Annual financial support to senior citizens, with 100 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2023 and 250 beneficiaries receiving ₦200,000 each.
  • A ₦50 million financial grant to 1,000 petty traders.
  • The Women in ICT Program, aimed at empowering women in the digital economy.
    According to Senator Tinubu, these interventions are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni represented by his Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the state has aligned with RHI through various empowerment programs for women, children, and vulnerable groups. These include the distribution of household items, skill acquisition schemes, and post-insurgency recovery programs that have economically empowered many women.

  • The State Coordinator of RHI and Wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere Buni, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for extending such impactful support to Yobe State. She also looked forward to stronger collaborations to further project the ideals of RHI and improve the lives of the people.
    Also present at the event was Dr. Ubong Udoh, Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, one of the key donors to the program.
  • RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State
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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

By: Zagazola Makama

Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.

Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.

“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.

He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.

The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.

“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.

Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.

The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

By: Zagazola Makama

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency through military operations alone, stressing the need to embrace soft power and address root causes of insecurity.

Kukah made this known in Abuja on Thursday while reviewing Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said the country’s reliance on military doctrines and repeated counter-insurgency operations had failed to produce lasting peace because Boko Haram represented an ideology, not just an armed threat.

“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.

The cleric argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of information and non-kinetic solutions that are critical to peacebuilding.

According to him, Boko Haram’s struggle is framed as a jihad, and many of its fighters see death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.

“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he said.

Kukah pointed to chapters 11, 12 and 13 of Irabor’s book, which emphasise reconciliation, good governance, justice, and national healing as critical conditions for security.

He praised the author’s reflections for going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms and moral renewal.

The bishop added that Nigeria must prioritise structural reforms, political inclusion, patriotism, and judicial integrity to tackle grievances that feed extremism.

“The urgency now is to invest in soft power – in human development, reconciliation, and building trust in institutions. Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” Kukah said.

The event attracted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, service chiefs, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
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