The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has issued a powerful call to African leaders to look inward and unlock the continent’s vast potential for funding.
Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the former Nigerian finance minister stated, “Access to aid should be viewed as a thing of the past.”
With decades of experience in global economic development, Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of shifting Africa’s mindset, especially in light of the pause in billions of dollars in global funding from U.S. health and education projects. “Africa needs to start viewing challenges as opportunities,” she said, urging leaders to take proactive steps in attracting investment and mobilizing resources to navigate the complex social and economic landscape shaped by current global policies, including those during the Donald Trump presidency.
Okonjo-Iweala’s bold statement calls for a transformative shift, challenging African nations to leverage their own resources and foster a more self-reliant and sustainable future.
As global financial dynamics shift, Africa has a unique chance to redefine its economic destiny and position itself as a beacon of innovation and growth. The future is in Africa’s hands—it’s time for the continent to rise to the challenge.
