World Bank Tasks FG On Health Education

ABUJA - Mr Onno Ruhl, the World Bank Country Director in Nigeria wants the Federal Government to invest more in education and health to boost the country’s development.


Ruhl, who spoke at the Forum in Abuja , observed that the growth rate in the two sectors was on the low side.


“Health and Education that is where the government needs significant help. Unfortunately, that is where Nigeria has some difficult indicators, especially on maternal and child mortality.


“ Education is not enough, there are too many girls out of school,’’ he said.


According to him, Nigeria has some proud higher institutions that people believe that, “if brought to the 21st century standard; it will bring change to the sector’’.


He noted that Nigeria had made tremendous achievements in telecommunications, banking, information and communication technology and agriculture, among others.


Ruhl said these achievements were laudable but said that steps must be taken to ensure that they were reflected in the lives of the ordinary Nigerian.


He said that to create jobs in the country, it was necessary for Nigerians to invest in the wholesale and retail business as well as the hospitality and entertainment industry.


“And I will like to say Journalism because not every person outside Nigeria knows how open the press is and how it gets more professional day by day; that is a great achievement.


“Human development is also very important,’’ the country director added.


Asked whether the bank was satisfied with returns on its investments in Nigeria , Ruhl said:


“I think, first, my observation is that we basically re-engaged in 1999 when democracy happened and obviously that means our portfolio like the Nigerian democracy is young.’’


He also explained that the bank’s objective was to help the governments of different countries to achieve their development objectives and grow their economies.


“That is the component of economic growth we support because it is very important for poverty reduction and human development.


“Because a sustainable growth path for the economy means that you need a healthy, well educated work force; you need a functioning infrastructure,’’ Ruhl said.


According to him, the bank’s portfolio in various projects in Nigeria is still about 4.6 billion dollars, a figure which, he noted, did not vary much as projects were completed and new ones nitiated.


Meanwhile the World Bank Country Director in Nigeria , Mr Onno Ruhl, has said that Nigeria needs a “realistic plan“ to solve some of its basic problems.


Ruhl, featuring on at Forum in Abuja , said the problems included power supply and infrastructure.


However, he said that the Federal Government’s Vision 20: 2020, if well implemented, could address the problems thereby enabling the government to meet the needs of Nigerians.


“So, what the country needs now is a realistic plan to solve some of the most basic problems we all know Nigeria has. Well, you now have the road map; whoever is there after the elections — if implemented, will be able to serve Nigerians well,’’ Ruhl said.


The country director urged the government to create a conducive business environment and partner with the private sector to provide the infrastructure needed in the country.


According to him, a conducive business environment is necessary to attract private investors to the other sectors of the economy as it happened in the telecommunications sector.


Ruhl also urged the government to invest more in human capital development, noting that only the people could sustain development.


The country director also noted that if the majority of the citizens of a country were not empowered and left without opportunities, they could weigh down the nation down rather than propel it.


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