Mr Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meeting in Washington DC, which opens on Monday, October 13.
The delegation, which includes the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, will represent Nigeria at the week-long global financial event attended by central bankers, finance ministers, and development partners from around the world.
A statement issued on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, confirmed that Mr Cardoso, as the Alternate Governor of the World Bank and IMF for Nigeria, will stand in for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who has been ruled out due to illness.
According to the statement, Mr. Edun remains in Nigeria but may be flown abroad for further medical attention. The presidency noted that Mr. Cardoso will lead the delegation in discussions focused on economic growth, fiscal stability, and global financial development.
The World Bank stated that this year’s meetings will feature several high-level sessions, including the Development Committee Plenary on October 16 and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting on October 17.
These sessions are expected to focus on global economic outlooks, poverty reduction, debt sustainability, and policy coordination among member countries.
Mr Onanuga also disclosed that the annual event will include regional briefings, press conferences, and fora devoted to international development, financial stability, and global economic resilience.
The meetings provide a platform for Nigeria and other member nations to engage with development partners and explore policy options for tackling economic challenges, enhancing fiscal transparency, and strengthening institutional frameworks.
In a related update, the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update (NDU) released on October 8 urged the Nigerian government to audit the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and strengthen revenue mobilisation through increased value-added tax (VAT) and health taxes.
The report further advised that the gains from recent macroeconomic reforms should translate into measurable improvements in citizens’ living standards.
Nigeria’s participation in the annual meetings comes amid ongoing efforts by the Tinubu administration to stabilise the economy, attract foreign investment, and deepen collaboration with global financial institutions.
The delegation is expected to hold bilateral discussions on key development initiatives and financing opportunities during the sessions.
