Dr Adesina who disclosed this while speaking at an event in Lagos on Sunday, expressed appreciation to President Buhari for nominating him for re-election for a second term as the Bank's President in a release, copied to the Ghana News Agency.

According to him, Nigeria has invested so much in him, giving him the opportunity to serve as Minister of Agriculture, which was a duty call.

"I served Nigeria to the very best of my ability. I thank God that Nigeria's agriculture sector witnessed a much-needed transformation at the time".

He acknowledged the support of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the then President-elect, Buhari, campaigning hard for the position of the President of AfDB saying "It was a Nigeria effort, as all hands were on deck".

"This included our former presidents and heads of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, and of course my dear indefatigable sister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who ran a spirited campaign for me.

He said "By God's grace, I was elected President of the African Development Bank on May 28, 2015, exactly 24 hours after my term of office as Minister ended.

"The nation jubilated as I became the first-ever Nigerian to be elected President of the Bank since its establishment in 1964.

"At the African Development Bank, we have worked very hard".

He said as President of AfDB, 16 million people across the continent were connected to electricity and additional 70 million people with improved agricultural technologies to achieve food security.

"We have also given nine million people access to finance from private sector companies, provided 55 million people with access to improved transport, and 31 million people with access to water and sanitation.

"In all, 181 million people have directly benefitted from our investments.

"I am proud of all my staff and the Board of Directors whose hard work and relentless support have helped make this happen.

The AfDB has continued to maintain its global AAA rating. Last year, the Bank was rated the fourth most transparent institution globally.

"There is still much to do. We have gone some way climbing the steep mountainside of Africa's development, yet there is still much way to go until we reach the mountaintop".

Dr Adesina said "I wish to immensely thank and appreciate President Buhari for nominating me for re-election for a second term as President of the African Development Bank and for being such a wonderful champion and supporter of my re-election".