The World Bank has announced the appointment of Dr. Ndiamé Diop as its new country director for Nigeria, effective immediately. Dr. Diop, a seasoned development expert, succeeds Shubham Chaudhuri, who completed his term as country director.
Prior to his appointment, Dr. Diop served as the World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, based in Manila. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the bank’s operations in the region, more than tripling the bank’s financing to the Philippines to support key economic reforms and development initiatives.
Dr. Diop’s appointment comes at a critical time for Nigeria, which is facing significant development challenges. The country is grappling with poverty, inequality, and infrastructure deficits, among other issues. The World Bank has been a key partner to Nigeria in its development journey, providing financing and technical support to various sectors, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
As country director, Dr. Diop will lead the World Bank’s team in Nigeria and deepen policy dialogue and partnership with the government and key stakeholders. He will oversee the delivery and implementation of lending and non-lending support to Nigeria, aiming to accelerate progress on the country’s development priorities.
Dr. Diop’s expertise and experience make him well-suited for the role. He has a deep understanding of development challenges and solutions, having worked in various regions and countries. His appointment is expected to significantly contribute to Nigeria’s development progress.
In his remark, Dr. Diop expressed his excitement about leading the World Bank’s program in Nigeria. “I am most excited to be leading the World Bank’s program in Nigeria, especially at this critical time when Nigeria has a significant opportunity to make progress towards improving its economy and delivering development outcomes for its citizens,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration in achieving development goals. “I look forward to deepening our partnership with the Government of Nigeria at the federal and state level, ensuring quality technical and financial support, which will help accelerate progress for Nigeria’s development priorities.”
The World Bank Group is committed to working with the Government, development partners, and citizens to realize a thriving economy in Nigeria, where jobs and economic prospects are created, and millions of Nigerians are lifted out of poverty.
Dr. Diop’s appointment has been widely welcomed by stakeholders, who see it as a positive development for Nigeria’s development journey. His expertise and experience are expected to significantly contribute to the country’s development progress, and his appointment is seen as a testament to the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s development goals.
