Please join the Atlantic Council Africa Center for A Conversation with H.E. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Nigeria’s Role in Codifying Governance and Improving Transparency – Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at 1:00pm ET:


A Conversation with H.E. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Nigeria’s Role in Codifying Governance and Improving Transparency

A discussion with:
H.E. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Moderated by:
Lesley Wroughton
Senior State Department Correspondent
Thomson Reuters

Introduction by:
J. Peter Pham
Director, Africa Center
Atlantic Council

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center and Thomson Reuters on October 8 as H.E. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, gives remarks based on her extensive experience—both in the Nigerian government and as a former World Bank managing director—on how to make governance more effective by making it more transparent.

Nigeria continues to diversify its economy—tapping into vast agriculture, real estate, and natural resource potential—through reforms focused on providing inclusive and sustainable growth for the country. Despite a population of more than 170 million people and the largest economy in Africa, the nation faces, aside from well-known security difficulties, growth and reform challenges: job creation and lowering the high unemployment rate; combating poverty and rising income inequality; and creating a friendly investment environment. Okonjo-Iweala will share her experience of how government reform—particularly in the land and housing sectors—has led to increased investment, sustained prosperity, and strengthened institutions in Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala was appointed to her current post by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011—her second such appointment as finance minister. Prior to this, she served as managing director for the World Bank from 2007 to 2011. Okonjo-Iweala served briefly as foreign minister in 2006, and she served her first term as finance minister from 2003 to 2006.