President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Dr. Jim Yong Kim on his election as the new President of the World Bank. President Jonathan also thanked the leaders, governments, peoples and friends of developing countries, as well as the media and other civil society groups, for the support and encouragement given to Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Jonathan restated the readiness of the Federal Government of Nigeria to continue to build on the existing cordial relationship and cooperation with the global institution.
According a statement by Reuben Abati ,the presidential spokesman “Jonathan wishes Dr. Kim, the candidate of the United States in the race for the helmsman of the World Bank, a successful tenure. He urges him to see his election as a challenge and a great opportunity for addressing the numerous issues of human development and poverty alleviation facing developing countries in general and Africa in particular”.
He also enjoined the new World Bank President to broaden the achievements of his predecessor, Robert Zoellick, and respond positively to the calls for reforms of the multilateral institution. President Jonathan also commended Nigeria and the developing world for running a well-articulated campaign in the race for the presidency of the World Bank.
President Jonathan noted that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala represented the voice of developing countries in the imperative campaign for the reform of the World Bank, stressing that her participation in the race has been a truly rewarding experience, which should inspire all Africans and the rest of the developing world to remain optimistic about the future of the World Bank.