Gaborone
The Government of the Republic of Botswana, in partnership with the De Beers Group, has announced the appointment of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as Chairperson of the Diamonds for Development Fund — a landmark initiative aimed at driving Botswana’s economic diversification and sustainable development.
An internationally respected development economist and transformational leader, Dr. Adesina brings decades of distinguished leadership and global development experience to the role.
Dr. Adesina served as the 8th elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, first elected in 2015 and re-elected for a second term in 2020. He successfully concluded his tenure in September 2025 after a decade of impactful leadership across the African continent.
During his presidency at the African Development Bank, Dr. Adesina recorded several landmark achievements, including:
- Expanding the Bank’s capital base from $93 billion to $318 billion — the highest in the institution’s history.
- Establishing the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), a premier investment marketplace that has mobilised over $225 billion in investment interest for projects across Africa since its launch in 2018.
- Launching the transformative “High 5s” development agenda in 2015, which has positively impacted the lives of over 565 million Africans.
- Leading the development of Mission 300, a joint initiative of the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group, aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo, welcomed the appointment, stating:
«“We are proud and honoured to have Dr. Akinwumi Adesina join the Diamonds for Development Fund as Chairperson. His appointment reinforces Botswana’s commitment to maximising the value of its diamond resources as a catalyst for economic transformation, diversification, innovation, beneficiation, and citizen participation across the diamond value chain.”»
Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, also praised the appointment, saying:
«“When we established the groundbreaking Diamonds for Development Fund with the Government of Botswana, we knew we needed an exceptional leader to realise our ambitions for economic diversification and job creation. Dr. Adesina’s remarkable track record in African development, his global network, commitment to strong governance, and strategic vision make him the ideal person to guide the Fund toward achieving Botswana’s long-term economic objectives.”»
In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Adesina expressed gratitude for the appointment, noting:
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Diamonds for Development Fund by the Government of Botswana and De Beers Group. The Fund represents a bold and visionary initiative designed to ensure that the people of Botswana benefit directly from the wealth generated by diamonds. Its success can become a global benchmark for how natural resource wealth can be transformed into enduring prosperity for future generations.”
