Nigeria, May 8 -- The atmosphere was pleasantly warm and the venue was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington DC, United States. Amid side-talks and banters, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala walked briskly towards a section of the press gallery, and it seemed obvious that she was prepared for a TV interview as much as she was for the daunting tasks ahead. In the midst of global uncertainties, she had her work cut out for her.

Throughout the days preceding that Friday, the fifth day of the World Bank/IMF 2025 spring meetings, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala had interacted with global leaders, ministers of finance, and governors of central banks gathered in Washington D.C from different parts of the world.

As Director-General of the World ...