'Trump will do great things with Africa,' with time - AfDB boss

President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) has stated that Africa and the United States need each other adding that US President Donald Trump only needed time to do great things with the continent.

Adesina was part of an African contingent that held talks with G7 leaders at a recent summit held in Italy.

He tweeted after the summit that it was great meeting Trump adding that “Time for a new deal for Africa. Let’s do it!” He did not give any details of the said deal.

Adesina was joined by the African Union Commission chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat and five African leaders including Ethiopian Prime Minister, Presidents of Niger, Guinea, Kenya and Acting President of Nigeria.

Great meeting with POTUS US President realDonaldTrump during G7 summit. Time for new deal for Africa. Let’s do it! pic.twitter.com/2MuCNM55ib

— Akinwumi A. Adesina (@akin_adesina) May 27, 2017

Adesina’s time for Trump echoed by Mugabe in February

The AfDB boss’ call for time to allow Trump engage more with Africa was a vie echoed by Africa’s oldest leader 93-year-old Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. In February this year Mugabe was quoted as saying he preferred Trump to Hillary in the November 2016 polls.

His preference for Trump arose from two reasons. Trump’s American nationalism agenda being the first reason.

“When it comes to Donald Trump, on the one hand talking of American nationalism, well America for America, America for Americans – on that we agree. Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans,” he said.

Whiles admitting that he did not know Trump well, Mugabe is of the view that the new occupant of the White House needed time. ‘‘I do not know him. Give him time,’‘ adding that ‘‘Mr Trump may even re-look the sanctions on Zimbabwe.’‘

He further intimated that Harare was ready to work with the new Republican administration.