The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Professor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Tuesday pledged the support of her team in Geneva for Nigeria at this difficult time of economic challenges.
She gave the assurance after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu alongside former Minister of State for Health during Goodluck Jonathan, and now Minister-designate, Mohammed Ali Pate.
Okonjo-Iweala said the focus of their discussion with the President was on what they would do to support Nigeria; and that they are contemplating a grassroots programme to help young people as well as women.
She said the WTO would look at the kind of help they can offer the people in agriculture, textile and even in established pharmaceutical companies, and “we want to help them in digital trade so that they can create more jobs.”
According to her: “We all know that things are very difficult for Nigerians outside. Everyone is struggling. I’m here myself on a quiet visit. So this was not really an official WTO mission but we’re able to engage with Mr. President, talk about what are the kinds of programmes that could be put in place to make sure that the suffering of Nigerians are being alleviated.
“And we had a really good conversation on trying to look at the community and grassroots programmes that can be put in place to create jobs for young people, trying to support women and children, who are bearing the brunt of some of the suffering in the country.
“We talked about how for the long term, we need to do those investment opportunities that Nigeria can cease including in the pharmaceutical industry.
“We also talked about what type of support the World Trade Organization can bring. We’re already working in Nigeria with women in particular, who own small and medium enterprises to try to help them upgrade the quality of their products. Whether it’s in the agricultural area, in textiles or in other areas so that they can sell more internationally.
“We’re trying to help them with digital trade. So how do we train and empower Nigerian women and owners of small and medium enterprises so that they can trade more and create more jobs?
“So that is what’s needed now, helping Nigerians to alleviate the difficult conditions that they are in.
“So that is what we discussed with Mr. President and as the Director General of the World Trade Organization, we are going to try to do the most we can to support Nigerians at this particular time.”
Also speaking, Pate said that President Tinubu was fully aware of the difficulties people are facing and that efforts are being made to alleviate it.
“I reaffirm that Mr. President is fully aware of the difficulties that people are facing, and committed and I think he is doing all that he can and with his team to ensure that those sufferings are alleviated.
“That was the main thrust of the conversation that we had in terms of targeting those who are most vulnerable, women, children, youth, attracting investment opportunities, that can grow the economy so that people will get some succour because the difficulties that we’re facing is transitory.
“I think with the vision of the President there’s reason to be very hopeful that we’ll navigate through this difficult time and have a Nigeria that sees us stronger, united and conspired to the greatness that is in our future.
“Health affects everyone from the policy side, regulatory side, pharmaceuticals and quality of pharmaceuticals, the financing side, in terms of financial protection, health insurance, and all those elements, primary health care in every nook and cranny of this country, folks have ailments like malaria, vaccinations, treatment of basic diseases with the primary healthcare system, as well as hospital care, which is very important.
“Because sometimes you have primary healthcare. And Mr President is very committed to all those policy interventions, not only on health but in all other arenas that will bring succour to this country and to move our economy for the greatness that is in our future.
“So that was really the purpose of this very fruitful discussion with Mr President”, Pate said.
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