Makhtar Diop to take over from Oby Ezekwesili at World Bank

Oby Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for Africa and former Nigerian minister of Education has resigned from the Bretton Woods institution, having served five years.

In a statement made public by Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, “Obiageli Ezekwesili, vice-president for Africa, after five years of important and successful service to the bank and to Africa, will return to Nigeria in early May.”

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.”

He added that: "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.

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.

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