ABUJA — The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on Friday received the incoming Country Director of the World Bank for Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Verghis, during a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja. The delegation also included Mr. Ndiame Diop, the outgoing Country Director, and Mr. Taimur Samad, Operations Manager for Nigeria, along with other senior officials of the Bank.
The visit marked a smooth leadership transition within the World Bank’s Nigerian Country Office and reaffirmed the Bank’s continued commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development agenda, particularly in areas of economic reforms, infrastructure, social investment, and fiscal sustainability.
Welcoming the delegation, Minister Edun commended Mr. Diop for his service and collaboration with Nigeria during a period of critical economic reforms and expressed optimism in working with Mr. Verghis to strengthen ongoing partnerships.
“We are grateful for the strong support the World Bank has consistently shown toward Nigeria’s development priorities. As we continue to implement President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we look forward to deeper engagement with the Bank under Mr. Verghis’s leadership,” Edun said.
The Minister highlighted ongoing reform efforts aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment, improving revenue generation, and ensuring transparent public financial management. He also emphasized the importance of technical support and concessional financing from development partners in addressing challenges such as food security, energy transition, and social protection.
In his remarks, Mr. Verghis expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated the World Bank’s readiness to work closely with the Nigerian government in delivering impactful programs that benefit millions of citizens. He acknowledged the scale of Nigeria’s potential and assured the Finance Ministry of the Bank’s commitment to tailored solutions that reflect the country’s unique realities.
The outgoing Country Director, Mr. Diop, commended Nigeria’s ongoing policy shifts, especially in subsidy removal, foreign exchange unification, and public sector reform, describing them as courageous steps toward long-term growth.
Friday’s meeting comes at a time when Nigeria is pushing for increased international collaboration to drive inclusive economic recovery and reduce poverty across its population of over 200 million people.
The visit ended with a mutual pledge to sustain dialogue, deepen reform support, and build a resilient partnership that accelerates Nigeria’s path to sustainable development.
