A Great Honour to the Nation - Goodluck Jonathan Congratulates Okonjo-Iweala

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has congratulated Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over her recent appointment to two key international positions, stating that her performance as Finance Minister during his tenure was a major determinant in her clinching the new appointments.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 22 in Abuja, former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has congratulated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over her recent international appointments.

He also commended her performance as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for Economy, noting that her emergence as the chair of the Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and appointment as senior advisor to Lazard Ltd makes her the third woman from his government to be honoured with key international jobs and the fourth so far.

The others, according to the statement are Mrs. Johnson, Ms Arunma Oteh, former Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) who became the Treasurer and Vice President of the World Bank as well as Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who was elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Read the statement below;

"Through your vision, the nation was able to implement some rewarding reforms in public financial management including the launch of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to boost dwindling revenue, as well as the introduction of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which eliminated thousands of ghost workers from the public service system.

I believe that this record of high performance in my Government weighed heavily in your favour and helped put you on top of the list, during the man-hunt and competitive international search process to fill these positions.

It further underscores my belief that women of high integrity and proven abilities should be given the opportunity to directly contribute to national and international development. This is consistent with the global thinking that women who excel in their various professions should be encouraged to participate in governance.

I am encouraged by the fact that your responsibilities in the new positions fall within your familiar career purview of strengthening institutions, building systems and advising countries on structuring their finances and dealing with debt issues.

I have no doubt in my mind that you would excel in the two assignments, given your past record of excellent service both in Nigeria and internationally."