Ms. Oley Lucretia Clara Dibba-Wadda appointed as Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) warmly congratulates Ms. Oley Dibba-Wadda, ADEA Executive Secretary who has been appointed as Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank Group. We also honor Oley for the outstanding leadership, vision, dedication and commitment to excellence that she has brought to the Association. We are confident that Ms. Dibba-Wadda will continue to demonstrate transformative leadership, and passion for the continent’s youth, in her new assignment.

The African Development Bank Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Oley Lucretia Clara Dibba-Wadda as Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development with effect from 1st July 2017. 

A citizen of the Republic of The Gambia, Ms. Dibba-Wadda is a social development executive and strategic analyst, with over 20 years of leadership and management experience. She is an expert in African and international policies on education, gender equality and youth development. 

Ms. Dibba-Wadda is currently the Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) - a pan-African Institution (hosted by the African Development Bank) which brings together Ministers of Education across 54 African countries, as well as international development partners in the field of education. She had earlier worked as the Executive Director of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), a pan-African organization for promoting the education of girls across sub-Saharan Africa. She had also worked as the Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) - an Africa-wide organization on women, peace and security in Africa.

Ms. Dibba-Wadda has equally held several management and advisory roles in various international development agencies including Oxfam, Great Britain, the Commonwealth Education Fund and Concern Universal. She is a Global Ambassador for 10X10 and Concern Universal and chairs and sits on several Advisory Boards and Committees. 

A Certified Life Coach, Ms. Dibba-Wadda has over the past 19 years been providing coaching and mentoring support on emotional life skills to several youths across the African continent. She is the founder of the Gam Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL) in The Gambia and a strong advocate and champion for youth development in Africa. 

In recognition of her exemplary contribution towards human development, Ms. Dibba-Wadda was awarded; the “Inspiring Woman of Excellence” in 2012 and “African Woman Leadership” in 2013 and was one of the nominees for the 2017 New African Woman in Education. 

She holds a Master’s degree in Gender Analysis in Development from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom and a Diploma in Gender and Development. 

Speaking about the appointment of Ms. Dibba-Wadda, President Akinwumi Adesina said “Oley is a well-respected leader in the field of education and her leadership has been inspiring in mobilizing African decision makers to focus on human capital and youth development on the continent. Her extensive experience, passion and commitment to the education of girls and skills development for the youths, will help advance the Bank's focus on building Africa's workforce of the future and creating jobs for the youths".