AfDB Picks Lamin Barrow As Director-General For Nigeria Country Office

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has on Tuesday appointed Lamin Barrow as the new Director-General in its Nigeria’s Country Office.

Brandnewsday reports that the announcement was made known by the the African multilateral development finance institution on Wednesday, July 6, 2021.

It was noted that Mr Barrow’s appointment becomes effective from July 1, 2021, according to the update on the bank’s website.

According to a statement issued by the bank on Tuesday, before his appointment, Barrow was Acting Senior Director, Nigeria Country Office, in the Regional Development, Integration & Business Development Vice Presidency.

Speaking on the appointment, President of the AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina stated that “Mr Lamin Barrow is a seasoned professional, with a proven track record in strategic management, country dialogue, portfolio management, negotiations and building partnerships.

Lamin Barrow AfDB: AfDB Picks As Director-General For Nigeria Country Office

“The Nigeria Country Office is strategic for the bank as it manages a large country portfolio and operations with State governments and the private sector.

“Lamin’s extensive managerial experience, knowledge in operations and excellent diplomatic skills in government relations at the highest levels will help to deepen our operations and engagements with the government and partners in Nigeria.”

Moving on, the statement added, since Barrow joined the bank, he had served as Senior Financial Analyst, Infrastructure Department; Principal Country Programme Officer, Rwanda Country Office; and Resident Representative in Ethiopia where he oversaw a portfolio of $1.2bn.

Reacting on his appointment, the newly appointed AfDB D.G Nigeria said, “I am grateful to President Adesina for this appointment, which provides a great opportunity to further contribute to his bold vision to position the Bank as a partner of choice and deliver on the High-5 strategic priorities in this important Regional Member Country, which is key to realizing Africa’s development aspirations.”

About Nigeria AfDB Director General, Lamin Barrow

Mr Lamin Barrow, a Gambian national, who joined the African Development Bank in 2000, was prior to his appointment, the acting Senior Director, Nigeria Country Office, in the Regional Development, Integration & Business Development Vice Presidency.

Lamin Barrow brings to this new role, extensive knowledge and a rich experience in policy analysis, strategy implementation, project finance, project preparation, portfolio management, regional integration, as well as public and private partnerships.

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Since joining the Bank, he has served as Senior Financial Analyst, Infrastructure Department; Principal Country Programme Officer, Rwanda Country Office; and Resident Representative in Ethiopia, overseeing a portfolio of $1.2 billion. In 2013, he was appointed as Manager, Operations, Technical Support and Regional Approaches in the Transition States Support Department.

Lamin holds a Master of Arts in Economic Policy degree from Boston University, USA and a B.Sc. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of executive programs in finance at The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, USA, and investment and risk analysis from Queens University, Canada.