Dr. Ndiamé Diop has officially assumed his position as the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, succeeding Shubham Chaudhuri, who recently completed his term.
Before his new assignment in Abuja, Dr. Diop served as the World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, based in Manila.
During his tenure, he significantly increased the Bank’s financing to the Philippines, supporting key economic reforms and efforts to bridge disparities in nutrition, healthcare, social protection, education, agriculture, and digital connectivity.
In Malaysia, Dr. Diop oversaw a substantial knowledge program aimed at assisting the country in achieving a high-income economic status.
Additionally, he successfully engaged the Thai government to resume World Bank investment lending after a two-decade hiatus.
“I am most excited to be leading the World Bank’s program in Nigeria, especially at this critical time when Nigeria has a significant opportunity to make progress towards improving its economy and delivering development outcomes for its citizens,” Dr Diop stated.
He added: “I look forward to deepening our partnership with the Government of Nigeria at the federal and state level by ensuring quality technical and financial support which will help accelerate progress for Nigeria’s development priorities.
“Nigeria is a dynamic and vibrant country which is significant for the entire sub-region.
“The World Bank Group is most committed to working with the Government, development partners, and citizens to realize a thriving economy where jobs and economic prospects are created, and millions of Nigerians are lifted out of poverty.”
In his new role, Dr Diop will lead the World Bank’s team in Nigeria, enhancing policy dialogue and partnerships with the government and key stakeholders. He will oversee the delivery and implementation of both lending and non-lending support to Nigeria.
Dr. Diop has held several leadership positions within the World Bank, including Head of the Macroeconomics, Trade, and Investment unit for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Lead Economist for Indonesia, and Lead Economist for Jordan and Lebanon.
He also served as the Bank’s Resident Representative for Tunisia between 2007 and 2010. Dr. Diop began his World Bank career in Washington DC in 2000 as a Young Professional.
As an accomplished economist, Dr. Diop has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and books on topics such as fiscal policy and growth, monetary policy and inflation, macroeconomic resilience, natural resource abundance, Dutch disease, and economic diversification.
Meanwhile, in response to escalating inflation and economic difficulties, the Nigerian government has requested an 18-month extension for the World Bank’s $800 million palliative loan, aimed at enhancing the country’s social safety net programs.
The extension, if approved, would move the project’s closing date from June 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025.
The government stated that since its inception, the loan has benefitted approximately three million poor and vulnerable households.