Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, says the election of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will advance the cost of development in Nigeria and presents the country with one of its finest moments internationally.
Mustapha stated this on Tuesday when Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigeria Minister of Finance paid a courtesy visit to the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19.
Mr Mustapha who is the PTF chairman also noted that the WTO boss, who is also the chair of the board of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, has been consistent in promoting the economic development of the country.
“Our vaccines have arrived. And I want to take this opportunity to truly thank you for your efforts as chair of GAVI, in ensuring because I kept getting reports that you are on everybody’s necks to ensure that Nigeria got its supplies,” Mr Mustapha stated.
“You see that is the benefit that we stand to derive as a country when you have one of your own in a particular position and we want to thank you for that.
“We are very, very confident that your election into this office will bring a lot of good goodwill to Nigeria. And it would help us advance the cost of development in this country.
“I am quick to say that this is one of our finest moments internationally because of the positions that Nigeria holds at the international level. On the global level, we have you. We have Hajia Amina Mohammed, who is the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations.
“At the continental level, particularly in the areas of finance and economy, we have the president of the African Development Bank; we have the president of the Afrexim bank.
“So Nigeria, as a matter of fact, controls how money is spent or raised on the continent of Africa. And we also have at the AU for the first time, a commissioner who was elected of recent. I believe, with all these resourceful persons holding these very strategic offices, you bring your wealth of experiences to bear in helping us back at home, recalibrate our entire developmental efforts”.
By Abel Ejikeme