By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says Nigeria’s economy has achieved stability under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but the next focus should be on driving growth and expanding social safety nets.
Speaking to State House correspondents on Thursday after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala commended the government for stabilising the economy, noting that “you cannot really improve an economy unless it’s stable.”
“The reforms have been in the right direction. What is needed next is growth. We now need to grow the economy and put in social safety nets so that people feeling the pinch of reforms can have some support,” she said.
The WTO chief said discussions with the President centred on strategies to create jobs, raise disposable income, and strengthen safety nets for vulnerable Nigerians.
Earlier, Okonjo-Iweala participated in the launch of a Women Exporters Fund for the digital economy, spearheaded by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Jointly managed by the WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC), the scheme supports Nigerian women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, create jobs, and boost economic growth.
Nigeria is one of four countries selected for the programme, coordinated locally by the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. Out of 67,000 applicants, 146 women were selected. Sixteen “booster track” winners will receive 18 months of technical and business support, while 100 others will get $5,000 grants and a year of mentoring.
“This is just the beginning,” Okonjo-Iweala said, expressing hope that more Nigerian women would be empowered to weather economic challenges and contribute to national development.
