Like Nigeria, the global economy is on a path to growth, riding on the wings of rising commodity prices and trade policies. This growth may be stunted by the protectionism in the US, Brexit realities in the UK, and geopolitical shocks emanating from Syria, Russia, and North Korea.
The business and finance world — as led by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — will be converging on Washington to discuss and decide the path forward, and Nigeria will be adequately represented.
TheCable’s Tijani Mayowa is in Washington to bring you real-time updates on the decisions of global players, with specifics on how these decisions will affect Nigeria and the African continent as a whole.
Nigeria will be represented by Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance; Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations and former minister of environment; and Tayo Oviosu, CEO, Paga Nigeria.
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KEY EVENTS TO WATCH
April 18
On Tuesday, the IMF will be unveiling its World Economic Outlook (WEO) for the rest of 2017, 2018 and 2019. In this outlook, the Bretton Woods institution may review Nigeria’s expected GDP growth, which is currently put at 0.8 percent for 2017.
April 19
Tayo Oviosu, CEO of Paga Nigeria, will join Benno Ndulu, governor, Central Bank of Tanzania, on “Driving Digital Financial Inclusion in Africa”.
This session will be moderated by Eric Chinje, CEO, African Media Initiative.
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April 20
Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank, will be addressing a press conference on the Global economy, and dealing with the knotty issues surrounding geopolitical relations.
Later in the day, Kim will join Melinda Gates, co-chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Priti Patel, secretary of state for international development, United Kingdom; Claver Gatete, minister of finance and economic planning, Rwanda, and a host of others in discussing “Generation Now: How Investing in Adolescents Today Can Change the World of Tomorrow”.
Still on Thursday, Amina Mohammed will join Christine Lagarde, managing director of the IMF; Winnie Byanyima, international executive director, Oxfam; Siv Jensen, minister of finance, Norway; and Muhtar Kent, CEO, Coca Cola on a panel that examines “Gender and Macroeconomics: What’s Next?”
Mohammed will later join Peter Thomson, the president of the UN general assembly, and friends from across the world to debate solutions on “Implementing the 2030 Agenda: From Commitment to Action”.
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On what will be the busiest day of the meetings, Oluwatobi Ogunbayo, executive director, African Internally Displaced Persons Voice Foundation, will be moderating a session, where Kashim Shettima, governor of Borno state, will be discussing a global strategy for resettling and integrating IDPs into society.
April 21
On Friday, the civil society Organisations (CSOs) will be discussing the World Bank, IMF commitments to fighting inequality around the world. In the same vein, the CSOs will seek solutions to Africa’s debt crisis.
Francis Ukwuije, global financing facility focal point, federal ministry health Nigeria, will join colleagues from across the world, on “Strengthening Civil Society Engagement in National Planning Processes: Lessons Learned from the Global Financing Facility”.
April 22
On April 22, Kemi Adeosun will be hosted on a panel with Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank president; Yvonne Chaka Chaka, singer/humanitarian, the princess of Africa Foundation, and three other revered speakers.
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This panel will beam the spotlight on nutrition, with the aim of exploring opportunities around “Unlocking Human Potential and Economic Growth”.
The meeting will conclude with takeaways for every country affiliated to the Bretton Woods institutions, and we will be here to give you conclusions for Nigeria and Africa.
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Do not miss a minute, follow @thecableng for the events, policies and decisions — as they unfold.
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