“African Leaders Must Look Inward for Funding, Aid Is Fading” – Okonjo-Iweala
The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged African leaders to shift focus from foreign aid and explore local funding opportunities to drive development across the continent.
Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the former Nigerian Finance Minister noted that access to global aid is becoming increasingly uncertain, emphasizing the need for a new approach to economic growth.
“Access to aid, I think we can begin to think of it as a thing of the past,” Okonjo-Iweala stated, underscoring the reality that African nations must rely more on internal resources rather than waiting for external assistance.
The former World Bank development economist pointed out that recent cuts in global funding, including billions of dollars in U.S. health and education projects, should serve as a wake-up call for African leaders.
She warned that Africa must change its mindset, viewing these challenges as an opportunity to mobilize local investments and attract capital for sustainable growth.
According to Okonjo-Iweala, African nations cannot afford to depend on aid, especially in the face of shifting geopolitical and economic policies, including those associated with Donald Trump’s presidency.
Her remarks come amid growing concerns over Africa’s financial dependency on donor countries, with many experts calling for stronger economic policies, better governance, and increased intra-African trade to drive progress.
Okonjo-Iweala’s message to African leaders is clear—self-reliance is key to the continent’s future.
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Reporting by Adeniyi Ogunfowoke, The Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
