World Bank will deepen partnership with Kogi, says country director

Ndiame Diop, World Bank country director for Nigeria, says he is ready to deepen partnership with Kogi state government.

Diop said this when Ahmed Ododo, governor of Kogi state, paid him a working visit at the bank’s office in Abuja.

According to a statement on Monday issued by Ismaila Isah, special adviser on media to the governor, Ododo called for improved collaboration with the World Bank Group in the implementation of development projects in critical sectors of the state’s economy.

Isah said the governor reviewed all ongoing World Bank projects in the state and requested for an expansion in areas of critical interventions such as education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructural to enhance the overall social and economic development of the state.

“Governor Ododo also called for a programmatic approach to all World Bank interventions to conform with the state’s 30-year development agenda of shared hope and prosperity and to ensure better coordination of all projects and programmes in the state,” Isah said.

“In his remarks, the new World Bank country director, Ndiame Diop assured Governor Ododo of his readiness to deepen cooperation and partnership with the Kogi state government, stressing that he looks forward to working with the governor to accelerate implementation of all ongoing World Bank projects and programmes in Kogi state.”

Isah said the governor was accompanied by Ali Bello, his chief of staff, as well as Ododo’s commissioners and senior top government officials from the state.