Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has urged African leaders to focus on finding internal funding opportunities for the continent, suggesting that the era of relying on aid is over. Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she emphasized the need for a shift in mindset.
Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister and World Bank economist, stated, “Access to aid can now be considered a thing of the past.” She pointed out that Africa must now see the challenges as opportunities, particularly in light of the global funding pause, which includes billions of dollars in U.S. health and education projects.
The developmental economist highlighted that African leaders should focus on attracting investments and mobilizing resources to address the current social and economic realities facing the continent, exacerbated by the policies from the Trump administration.
