The Federal Government has restated its commitment to working closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it continues implementing economic reforms aimed at improving fiscal stability, strengthening public finances and creating a stronger foundation for long-term economic growth.
The assurance was given during a farewell dinner in Abuja held in honour of the outgoing IMF Resident Representative in Nigeria, Dr Christian Ebeke, who recently completed his three-year assignment in the country.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, praised Ebeke for his professionalism, technical expertise and support during a period when Nigeria introduced major economic reforms.
According to the minister, Ebeke played an important role in strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and the IMF at a time when the country was implementing policies designed to restore macroeconomic stability, improve government finances, boost investor confidence and support sustainable economic development.
He noted that throughout his stay in Nigeria, the outgoing IMF representative maintained close engagement with government officials, offering technical advice while demonstrating a good understanding of the country’s unique economic challenges.
The minister said Ebeke contributed meaningfully to discussions on key policy areas, including fiscal reforms, domestic revenue generation, public debt management, foreign exchange reforms and other important government initiatives.
He also commended Ebeke for his leadership style, describing him as approachable, humble and willing to listen to different opinions before offering recommendations.
Rather than imposing solutions, the minister said the IMF official encouraged dialogue and collaboration, helping to strengthen the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and the global financial institution.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the International Economic Relations Department at the Ministry of Finance, Stanley George, said Ebeke’s tenure would be remembered for constructive engagement and steady support for Nigeria’s economic reform agenda.
According to George, the partnership between Nigeria and the IMF became even stronger through continuous dialogue, mutual respect and a shared commitment to achieving sustainable economic progress.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, also praised Ebeke, noting that his tenure coincided with one of the country’s most significant periods of economic policy reforms.
Cardoso said both the Federal Government and the CBN had introduced major policy measures aimed at restoring economic stability, improving market confidence and strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s economic management.
He acknowledged Ebeke’s role in promoting productive discussions and technical cooperation between the IMF and Nigerian authorities, adding that his practical understanding of Nigeria’s economic environment made him a valuable partner throughout the reform process.
The CBN governor expressed confidence that the strong relationship between Nigeria and the IMF would continue under the incoming resident representative.
In his response, Ebeke described his three years in Nigeria as both professionally rewarding and personally memorable.
He said serving as the IMF Resident Representative gave him the opportunity to work with government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, academics and other stakeholders committed to Nigeria’s development.
Ebeke praised Nigerians for their resilience, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, expressing optimism that the country’s ongoing reforms would deliver lasting economic benefits if sustained.
According to him, continued implementation of sound economic policies and stronger collaboration among stakeholders would help Nigeria achieve inclusive and long-term economic growth.
He also thanked the Federal Government, the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of Nigeria, development partners, members of the media and his IMF colleagues for their cooperation and support throughout his assignment.
The farewell ceremony was attended by several senior government officials, including the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, the Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, heads of government agencies, representatives of development organisations and members of the diplomatic community.
The event concluded with both Nigeria and the IMF reaffirming their commitment to maintaining a strong partnership in support of the country’s ongoing fiscal and macroeconomic reform programme.
