THE 24th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa will be hosted in Nigeria’s Federal Capital City
of Abuja in 2014.
This is according to Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who disclosed the news at the end of the 23rd edition of the WEF in Cape Town, South Africa on Friday.
Okonjo-Iweala thanked the WEF for choosing Nigeria as the next host, expressing the readiness of the country to make the next edition as exciting as possible.
The minister, who is also the coordinating minister of the economy said that the choice of Nigeria was appropriate given its position and huge economic potential.
“I think we epitomize a lot of things about Africa. We have the excitement, the passion, the entrepreneurship, the private sector drive and the glow for the future.
“But we also epitomise all of the difficult challenges of the continent such as infrastructure deficit, governance issues, corruption and transparency,” she said.
According to her, a combination of these opportunities and challenges in one country makes Nigeria the most exciting place to be on the continent.
Okonjo-Iweala said that the future of Africa was bright, judging by the commitment and passion demonstrated by participants in the forum, especially the Young Global Leaders, who represented the youths of the continent.