Ezekwesili Resigns From World Bank, effective May 2012

Oby Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for Africa and former Nigerian minister of Education is slated to retire from her position at the World Bank in May, 2012.

President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, disclosed that he had, last year, asked Ezekwesili who was slated for retirement to extend her tenure one more year in order to enable her finalize a new economic roadmap for Africa and the World Bank.

In a statement released from Zoellick’s office, he states, “Obiageli Ezekwesili, vice-president for Africa, after five years of important and successful service to the bank and to Africa, will return to Nigeria in early May.”

He added, “Under Oby’s leadership, our Africa team employed innovation, knowledge, partnership and financial services to strengthen results across Africa and to improve the prospects for Africa’s economic performance.

“Her close attention to the needs of our clients, engagement with African leadership and with regional institutions — such as the African Union, EAC and ECOWAS – as well as with the UN and other partners, has helped us to leverage our effectiveness across Africa.

“Oby has done excellent work mobilising private sector engagement and better connecting Africa’s development to that of other regions, particularly through South-South partnerships.”

The World Bank leader said Ezekwesili would leave a rich legacy in the form of her work at the institution which includes strengthening mechanisms to fight corruption via the use of ICT and thanked her for her years of selfless meritorious service.