Former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Dr
Akinwumi Adesina and Ms Arunma Oteh, both of whom were recently
appointed into high positions in African Development Bank (AfDB) and
the World Bank respectively, stating that the development serves as a
testimony to the fact that his Administration had a good economic team
that managed the affairs of the country.
Akinwumi who was President Jonathan’s Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development has just assumed duty as the President of the AfDB
while Oteh, who was the Director-General of Securities and Exchange
Commission, was appointed as the Treasurer and Vice President of World
Bank.
In separate letters of congratulations to both Adesina and Oteh which
Jonathan personally signed, the former President described them as
high achievers and Nigeria’s worthy ambassadors.
On Adesina’s choice as AfDB chief, Jonathan said: ““Given your
exemplary record of performance, while serving asthe Honourable
Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in my cabinet, I have
no doubt that you will deploy your energy and the bank’s resources to
ensure that Africa experiences a new era of accelerated development.”
Speaking further Jonathan said: “You were not only a critical voice in
my economic team, you also walked the talk, and earned the praise of
our countrymen and women, by ensuring that Nigeria’s quest for
self-sufficiency in food production became achievable dream.
“I am particularly pleased with your emergence as the AfDB boss; a
development, I believe, has come as a reward for having served your
country meritoriously”, the former President said, adding that “It
also attests to the fact that my Administration had a good team that
managed the affairs of the country.”
Similarly, the former President in a letter to Oteh praised the former
SEC boss’ profound knowledge of capital markets, describing her as
being conversant with the challenges of the economies of emerging
markets.
“I am delighted that you are going to your new job, fresh from the
experience of having led the recovery and growth initiatives of the
Nigerian Bourse in the wake of the decline, occasioned by recent
global economic recession and financial crisis.
“I am particularly pleased that you are being rewarded and elevated on
the world stage, after serving your country meritoriously, at a time I
was the President. This is a clear testimony to your capacity, high
integrity, and tenacity of purpose. It is also a vindication of the
decision of my Administration to stand by you, believing in your
abilities and competence, even when questions were being raised in
some quarters over your choice.
“I am convinced that the experience you gathered as Director-General of
the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC) gave you deep
insights on how to tackle the peculiar challenges of a developing
nation. The World Bank can draw from this to ensure that its future
partnerships with emerging economies in Africa and other parts of the
world are anchored on policies that will lead to sustained growth and
development, which is a sine qua non for lifting millions of people in
the developing world out of mass poverty.”
