The African Development Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Vincent Nmehielle as the Secretary General of the African Development Bank Group with effect from 1st September 2016. He will join the Senior Management Team of the Bank.

Professor Nmehielle, a South African national, joins the Bank from the African Union Commission where is currently the Legal Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs.

Professor Nmehielle is an acclaimed legal scholar, with extensive experience and expertise in international law, corporate governance and management of complex governance issues that involves multiple stakeholders. He has 26 years of experience in corporate legal practice, university lecturing and scholarship in international law, and international civil service with a focus on international rule of law, policy, justice, governance and development in Africa.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria and qualified as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He holds advanced degrees in law, including a Master of Laws in International Law from the University of Notre Dame Law School, USA; and a Doctor of Juridical Science in International Law from George Washington University, USA. He worked as a Managing Solicitor and Advocate prior to joining the academia, where he worked and rose to the level of full Professor of Law at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, and served as Head of the University of Witwatersrand Program on Law, Justice and Development in Africa.

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Until his appointment, he was the Legal Counsel and Director for Legal Affairs of the African Union Commission, where he served as the chief Legal Advisor of the Policy Organs of the African Union, including the Assembly of Heads of States and Government, the Executive Council, among other functions. He brings extensive experience and diplomacy in servicing high-level governance structures, fostering institutional governance systems and building consensus among diverse constituencies.

Nmehielle brings extensive board experience and has served as a board member and chair of many international organizations. Currently, he is an Advisory Board Member with the Africa Law Institute, Ottawa, Canada. Previously he served as Chair of the Board, Human Rights Institute of South Africa.

Professor Nmehielle said of his appointment, "I am excited to join the dynamic senior leadership team being put together at the African Development Bank to help accelerate the transformation of the African continent. I look forward to being part of the team, to support the Banks's institutional governance and accountability systems, working closely with the Board of Directors and the Management of the Bank."

The President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, said of the appointment, "I am delighted to welcome Vincent Nmehielle to the African Development Bank Group. The Bank will greatly benefit from Vincent's extensive experience in international law, corporate governance, ability to manage highly diverse stakeholders, and strengthen institutional governance to drive accountability and results. He is a great addition to our team."