Tinubu’s Economic Moves? Okonjo-Iweala Says They’re On Track — But There’s More To Do

By: Oluwaseun Lawal

So, here’s the thing. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the big boss at the World Trade Organization, just dropped some praise for President Bola Tinubu. She says the economic reforms? Yeah, they’re heading in the right direction. But don’t get it twisted — it’s not all smooth sailing yet.

After a quick chat with the President at the State House on Thursday, Okonjo-Iweala shared some exciting news. They launched a new fund — the Women Exporters Fund for the Digital Economy. Sounds fancy, right? It’s a joint effort between the WTO and the International Trade Centre in Geneva, aimed at helping Nigerian women entrepreneurs survive the rough economic waves and create jobs. Real impact stuff.

Nigeria actually won a spot in this global initiative — one of only four countries. Out of 67,000 women who applied, 146 made the cut. Some of them already have businesses and will get a “booster” to scale up, plus 18 months of support. The rest get $5,000 each and a year of business help. The goal? Grow their businesses, put money in their pockets, and boost the whole economy.

Okonjo-Iweala didn’t just stop there. She gave Tinubu’s team props for stabilizing the economy — a crucial first step. “You can’t fix what’s shaky,” she said. But now, the real challenge begins: growing the economy and making sure people don’t suffer while reforms take hold.

She talked about the need for social safety nets — support systems for folks feeling the pinch. Because, let’s be honest, reforms can be tough on everyday people. The plan? Help them weather the storm, create jobs, and get more money flowing into Nigerian households.

In short: Tinubu’s on the right path, but the journey’s far from over. Growth and support — that’s the next big thing.