I think being a woman makes you able to deal with a lot of things - and still keep sane. I also think women have less ego. If someone is saying things to make me feel bad, I don't care as long as I get the job done. When it comes to doing my job, I keep my ego in my handbag.'-Okonjo-Iweala.The race is on, and until 'the come comes to become' as some of my people say, no one can predict which way the pendulum will swing.The World Bank was set up in 1944 to cushion some of the effects of the economic depression that were prevalent at that time. Although several countries attended the Bretton Woods Conference which led to the setting up of the World Bank, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and three others,the United Kingdom and America, dominated the talks and that perhaps accounted for the influence wielded by the two countries, particularly, America which hosts the offices of the two institutions . The World Bank's target is mainly to bail out the poor countries from economic quargmire but it's destiny has always been decided by the richer nations of the world, especially WashingtonThe debate about the choice of a new president has heightened the postcolonial discourse. The fact that there are choices to make among three candidates, especially non-Americans has heightened the contest and even Jose Antonio Ocampio, the latest entrant to the World Bank Presidency contest and former Minister of Finance, Colombia agrees that the final choice of a president for the Bretton Woods organisation will put to test the seriousness of the advanced nations about opennness and transparency in the choice of leaders of institutions and nations. Will race decide best in this contest or brains' Will a fair chance be given to all other members to decide who leads them instead of arm twisting or blackmail' Will all cards be laid on the table so that the best will be chosen from the rest'When President Obama joined the presidential race, not many people gave him a chance at all considering his colour and background, but particularly his colour. It was a woman that first gave him the direly needed endorsement on television. That woman is Oprah Winfrey, a black American. How logical it will be if President Obama remembers this critical fact as he puts his mouth where his heart is in this critical contest.The race is on to chose the 12th president of this financial body latest April 21, and for once, not only competence but gendered-competence must be taken into consideration in the choice of the next president of the World Bank.Of the three candidates, Nigeria's candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stands heads over the other contestants in terms of experience and exposure about financial matters. She has served for the better part of her working life with the World Bank and has hands on experience with a failing economy. She was instrumental to the debt relief secured from the Paris Club by Nigeria under the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president of Nigeria. Even though history shows that only an Australian has had the fortune of being President of the bank briefly since its founding, the fact that there is an aspiring competent African should give the so-called advanced countries food for thought. If Africans or poorer countries are not good enough to head the bank. there is then no point admitting them as members.For the 11 former presidents, America had 10. It is time to forget about the deal that makes an American the perpetual head of the body.If the United States have the largest share, it should be interested in ensuring that the funds being managed by the bank is well managed and that is why competence should be the word.With degrees in economics from a leading American university, she was thought fit to return to the World Bank when she resigned her position in Nigeria as a minister Dr. Okonjo-Iweala will certainly do well as President of the World Bank, better than the former World Health Organisation (WHO) executive that America is proposing.The United States has being in the fore front of affirming and advancing gender issues the world over. It will be laying a good example if for once it accepts the superior argument and allows a free contest her so as to allow a credible and fit candidate carry the day.For Richard Dowden, a director with the Royal African Society,:'The World Bank was the instrument by which structural adjustment was imposed on Africa in the 1990s. It was the most brutal economic policy, it destroyed the livelihoods of millions of people and caused disruption and terrible insecurity. That an African should then become head of it would be hugely symbolic. The bank has been utterly directionless in recent years, and Okonjo-Iweala would be a great choice to change that. She's a very bright woman, absolutely no nonsense: the bullshit factor is extremely low with her.'He who feels it knows it, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has experienced deep poverty as revealed in her account of her experiences during the Nigerian civil war when the fortunes of her family plunged to zero. She will be able to feel the shoe where it pinches and know how to truly succour needy countries. If the target of the World Bank is poverty alleviation, then Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala fits the bill.Lewis, 08055001746 (SMS only)
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