The African Development Bank has announced the appointment of Ifechukwude Emmanuel Ezinwa as its Acting Director, Human Resources Operations, Recruitment and Client Services Department.

A statement issued by the AfDB made available to CEOAFRICA said that the appointment took effect from July 1.

Before his new appointment, the Nigerian-born Ezinwa was the Manager, Human Resources, Client Relations and Staff Engagement Division in the Human Resources Operations, Recruitment and Client Services Department of the People and Talent Management Complex of the AfDB.

Ezinwa joined the AfDB in 2017 as Lead Human Resources Operations/Advisor with the responsibility for facilitating the HR services delivery across the department and ensuring the implementation, follow up and monitoring of departmental objectives, work-plan and result delivery.

He was responsible for case management, compliance and the day-to-day relationship management with the internal recourse mechanism of the Bank, including the Staff Council.

Additionally, he participated actively in the drafting and design of the people management aspects of the General Capital Increase.

He was the task team manager for the comprehensive review of the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules, leading the engagement with the diverse internal and external stakeholders, to ensure the successful outcomes of the review, dissemination and implementation of the associated transformational initiatives.

As Division Manager for Client Relations and Staff Engagement, a position he occupied since January 2021, Ezinwa has been leading the HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition as well as the Onboarding and Employee Engagement teams in the implementation of a series of people management initiatives and reforms, as an integral part of People Strategy implementation plan.

This includes the e-recruitment, e-onboarding, New Managers onboarding, Strategic Staffing, the Talent Councils and Job family Committees among other initiatives and reforms.

Prior to joining the Bank, Ezinwa worked in the Human Resources’ Vice Presidency of the World Bank for 10 years successively as Regional Human Resources Business Partner between 2008 and 2012, and as Senior Regional Human Resources Business Partner, Africa Region from 2012 to 2017.

“In this capacity, he delivered end-to-end people management services to client staff and managers across the entire value chain – strategic staffing, talent acquisition, performance and compensation management as well as coaching and mentoring”, the statement said.

Between 2003 and 2007, Ezinwa worked for Nestle Central and West Africa, where he held various positions, including that of Assistant Human Resources Development Manager, Central and West Africa and subsequently Business Excellence Lead for the HR work stream of the process re-engineering and capabilities development project of the company.

From 2000 to 2003, he was Senior Human Resources Consultant at H. Pierson Consulting and then, Administrative and Human Resources Officer for Arco Petrochemical Engineering Company Limited in Nigeria from 1998 to 2000.

Ezinwa holds a Bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Benin, Nigeria and a Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from, Lagos State University.

He has attended several development and certification programs including Lagos Business School and Wharton Business School.

He is a certified Lean Six Sigma (Yellow Belt) practitioner, as well as Predictive Index (PI Europe) Testing and Assessment Tool certified.

Commenting on his appointment, Ezinwa said, “I would like to thank (the) President of [the] AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, for this appointment, which provides an opportunity to further continue to drive the ongoing transformation of people and talent management in line with the Bank’s strategic business direction.”

Commenting on his appointment, the AfDB President, Dr Adesina said, “I am pleased to appoint Ezinwa as Acting Director of the Human Resources Operations, Recruitment and Client Services Department in recognition of his solid knowledge and hands-on experience in people management.

“I am very optimistic that he will provide the leadership that this critical function needs at the Bank, during this transition period.”