President Muhammadu Buhari will be traveling to Dakar, Senegal, today July 6, to participate in the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; as well as Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo.
Others on the entourage are : the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director- General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan.
The presidential aide said the IDA which is an institution of the World Bank Group, is deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle (IDA20) which goes into effect between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025.
Shehu also disclosed that the High Level event slated for Thursday, July 7 is hosted by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, and President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration.
The presidential spokesman said this commitment is expected to chart the way forward for the transformation of the economies of these nations in partnership with the World Bank/IDA.
Shehu added;
“Topics slated for discussion include: Financing for Recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa; Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security; Human Capital; Digital and Technological Innovation; and Energy Transition and Climate Change.”
This is coming hours after Buhari reshuffled his cabinet and after his advance team was attacked by terrorists in Katsina.