Nigerian youths creating global value, Okonjo-Iweala lauds Burna Boy, others
The new Director-General of World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stressed the need to invest in young Nigerians and the global value that the country will attract through such investment.
Specifically, she said talents abound in Nigeria including Afrobeat musicians, Burna Boy and Wizkid, who won their first awards at the 63rd Grammys this week.
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Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, won the best global music album category with his Twice As Tall album released in August 2020.
Wizkid, on the other hand, won a Grammy for the Best Music Video’ for his role in ‘Brown Skin Girl’, Beyonce’s 2019 hit song.
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Speaking at a press briefing in Aso Villa Abuja this week, Okonjo-Iweala said, “Nigerian has many young people with a lot of talents. I just saw today that one of our musicians, Burna Boy won a Grammy Award. Our music, our movies are exported…and technology. Our young people are on the internet creating value. In Fintech, have the investment in Flutterwave that has led to the company being valued at almost a billion dollars.
“Our young people are doing so many things in services that can also be exported, and that is one area we need to look at. I was very heartened when the President spoke about investment in young people.”
The 66-year-old former finance minister is on her first working visit to Nigeria after she resumed office as WTO chief on March, 1, 2021, breaking a 26-year record to become the first African and first female director-general of the global trade and settlement body.
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Okonjo-Iweala had also met with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rted), and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at Aso Villa as well as other ministers to thank them for their support right from her nomination stage to her emergence as WTO chief.
