An African Woman Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been nominated to compete for the World Bank top job. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.
The African Union believes Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has undisputed credentials to be the next president of the World Bank.
However, United States has nominated Jim Yong Kim to lead the World Bank.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has been at the World Bank for 21 years; she is an economist Ph.D. from MIT with undergraduate degree from Harvard”.
The African Union said the crux of development issues in the world today resides in Africa, and therefore, the World Bank needs to have at its helm someone with deep knowledge and expertise in a wide-range of development issues.
Ambassador Harold E. Doley, Jr. the first U.S. Executive Director to the African Development Bank says Dr. Okonjo-Iweala can get the Bank presidency if developing countries unite behind her candidacy and with the endorsement of one developed country.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said during the weekend: “Sincerely, I feel honoured over by the decision of African leaders to back me for the job. It is elating that across the continent, the leaders spoke with one voice, and their gesture is directed at me; I am eternally grateful to them all for their support.”
Speaking at the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party at the Eagle Square, Abuja, She insisted that the opposition of the American government to her nomination would not dampen her spirit.
“For the developing countries need to coalesce behind her candidacy, and you will need one of the major developed countries to support her, and that most likely candidate would be France,” Doley notes.
He said France; with its dependence on Africa for its economic growth and triple “A” bond rating must support Dr. Ngozi for the presidency of the World Bank.
Doley described this year’s selection process as a watershed moment in terms of opening up the World Bank to full participation and moving beyond what he calls the so-called gentleman’s agreement.
Analysts say Africa has the greatest development needs, and should be better represented at the Bank, at the IMF and other multi-lateral institutions.
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