Dr. Mukhtar joined the African Development Bank in September 2017 as the Director of the Industrial and Trade Development Department. He oversees the implementation of the Bank’s Industrialization Strategy across the African continent, leading teams in industrial policy, trade development, investment climate, and non-sovereign operations spanning industries and services sectors (ICT, Manufacturing, Mining, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Private Equity, etc.). He also supports the regions in sovereign operations in these sectors. Prior to joining the AfDB, Dr. Mukhtar was the Group Chief Strategy Officer of the Dangote Group of Industries, Nigeria, from 2014-2017. In that role, he assisted the President/CEO in setting overall strategic direction for the Company and overseeing key aspects of the strategic planning processes for the group, business units, subsidiaries and associated companies. He played a key role in driving major activities, projects and initiatives of the Company, including expansion of cement manufacturing into 14 African countries, multi-billion dollar Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Plant, plus key joint ventures in Power, Oil & Gas as well as Agriculture Sectors. Dr. Mukhtar holds a Doctor of Medicine degree (MB.BS) from the Ahmadu Bello University School of Medicine – Zaria, Nigeria; A Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine; a Master in Business Administration degree (MBA) from the Harvard Business School, and a Master in Public Administration degree (MPA) from Harvard Kennedy School. He also obtained certificates in Leadership and Corporate Governance from INSEAD, Oxford and Harvard Universities. He was an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow and the recipient of several international awards.