The World Bank said it is ready to help Nigeria lift millions of her citizens out of poverty, disclosing that it has assisted the country to the tune of $11 billion in the last three years, and was ready to make more support.
World Bank’s Country Director, Mr Shubam Chaudhuri disclosed this on Wednesday while presenting a goodwill message at the opening of a three-day retreat for Ministers and other members of the Nigerian cabinet at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
“It is such an incredible honor and privilege to have been invited to give this message of goodwill message at the start of this important cabinet retreat.
“I’d like to think that, in some ways, perhaps it’s because Nigeria and the World Bank, especially the team on the ground has been from all of you, the leaders, and government of Nigeria, that were here with a very simple mission, which is to help you and support you in this incredibly important and really challenging task of lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty, of making lives better for everyone, for helping young Nigerians to regain renewed hope in their future.
“That’s why we are here. And I hope that through what we’ve been able to do that we will be able to continue supporting you, as you realize this enormously important task.”
“Although we are at the World Bank, we’re a development organization over the last three and a half four years that I’ve been here, our board has approved, over $11 billion in financing for the government.
“And our financing is meant to go for government at both the federal and at the sub national levels. So we’re here to support your programmes, we take guidance from you.
“But even though we have the word bank in our names, I hope you will think of us as more than a bank,” he said.
The World Bank Director used the opportunity to call on Nigeria to sustain its trust in the World Bank in order to provide solutions to some of the challenges confronting the nation.
“I really hope that you will trust us and that we will be able to earn your trust that we have something more to offer in the nature of solutions to help you think through and then implement the priorities, the focus areas that you’ve laid out by bringing in ideas and experience.
“Financing is only part of the solution. It’s really the ideas and the vision. So you have my commitment. I and the team, the entire world bank across the globe, we’re here to support you on that.” Mr Chaudhuri stressed.
The World Bank Director said he feels delighted and privileged to serve in Nigeria especially in the current dispensation where the leadership of Nigeria is charting a new course of seeing the country rise to its true potential.