Vice-President for Africa, World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili
By Kunle Aderinokun
Vice-President for Africa, World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, has resigned from the Bretton Woods institution, after five years of meritorious service. Her resignation takes effect from the first week of May.
The World Bank President, Mr. Robert Zoelick, who made this known in a letter made available to the Press, said Ezekwesili would be back to Nigeria after “five years of important and successful service to the bank and Africa”.
Zoelick said he had to delay the exit of Ezekwesili, who was a two-time minister when former President Olusegun Obasanjo held sway, by one year, to enable her implement the new strategy, “Africa’s Future and World Bank support to It,“ that “she did so much to develop”.
“Ezekwesili will be succeeded by Makhtar Diop, a Senegalese national, who has been the Country Director for Brazil since 2009. Diop is expected to resume on May 5. Zoelick gave no reason for her resignation but extolled her virtue.
According to him, “Under Oby’s leadership, our Africa team employed innovation, knowledge, partnership and financial services to strengthen results across Africa and to improve the prospects for Africa’s economic performance.
“Her close attention to the needs of our clients, engagement with African leadership and with regional institutions -- such as the African Union, EAC and ECOWAS - as well as with the UN and other partners, has helped us to leverage our effectiveness across Africa.
“Oby has done excellent work mobilising private sector engagement and better connecting Africa’s development to that of other regions, particularly through South-South partnerships.”
Zoelick added: “Oby has built a strong team across the range of the Bank’s work: infrastructure and human development; agricultural production and productivity; private sector development; economic reforms to overcome poverty; and governance and accountability.
“Reflecting her experience and background, Oby has been a relentless campaigner for transparency and against corruption. She has also led in the use of ICT for Development; in supporting social accountability mechanisms through civil society engagement; and in promoting innovative approaches to regional integration.
“The new Bank strategy for Africa and its implementation plan, both developed under Oby’s leadership, offer a strong legacy. I also appreciate Oby’s close work with IFC and MIGA, underscoring the interconnectivity across the World Bank Group to achieve better and more far-reaching impact.”
The World Bank President wished Ezekwesili “all the best in her future endeavours working with civil society, in which she will help to strengthen public sector capacity, and work especially with young people and women”.
“I am especially appreciative of her committed and devoted service - including the years spent away from her family,” he added.
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Hmm...Sad that she is resigning her appoint. I only hope she is not comming back to Nigeria to support her sister ,Ngozi in their bid to mortgage our future in the service of their Bretton Wood masters. We all know Obys record as the Minister for Education especially her role in the failed bid to sell off the few Federal Government Colleges. Oby please stay where you are because one bad apple is enough to spoil Nija!!
ReplyDeletePoster above, take it easy na
ReplyDeleteAnonymous above...how comes you are so averse to progress in Nija??? We need more brains here!!!
ReplyDeleteWelldone Oby.. Please do approach Mr President for a position within the Nigerian Economic Team. Am sure you make a good impact in there.
ReplyDeleteposter above. are they the only people of Nigeria that can make impact in the country pls let her stay back she will come to bring in her own self enriching transformation agenda
ReplyDeleteAnty Oby, I am proud of you. You made Nigeria proud in the committee of nations in your strong advocacy of uprightness & zero corruption. Pls come fast & join in rebuilding Nigeria for our future & our children
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