News
IMF Board Begins Selection Process For New Managing Director
The selection process for a new Managing Director for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has begun, its Board Coordinators have said.
The Board Coordinators of the Executive Board of the IMF, Mr Afonso Bevilaqua and Mr Abdullah BinZarah, made the disclosure in a statement made available to The Tide’s source, in Abuja, yesterday.
“We are very pleased to announce that the Executive Board has adopted an open, merit-based, and transparent process for the selection of the next Managing Director, similar to the one used in recent rounds.
“The executive board underscores the importance it places on the successful candidate having the requisite global standing to lead the fund, which stands at the centre of the global financial system.
“Individuals may be nominated by a fund Governor or Executive Director and as with past practice, we aim to reach a decision by consensus.
“The board intends to complete the process by the end of April 2024.”
The board coordinators said the board approved the decision as outlined below:
“The successful candidate for the position of managing director will have a distinguished record in economic policymaking at senior levels.
“He or she will have an outstanding professional background, will have demonstrated the managerial and diplomatic skills needed to lead a global institution, and will be a national of any of the fund’s members.
“As Chief of the fund’s staff and as Chair of the Executive Board, (s)he will be capable of providing strategic vision for the work of a high-quality, diverse, and dedicated staff.
“S(he) will be firmly committed to advancing the goals of the fund by building consensus on key policy and institutional issues, including through close collaboration with the executive board, under whose direction (s)he will fulfil his or her responsibilities.
“(S)he will have a proven understanding of the fund and the policy challenges facing the fund’s diverse global membership.”
According to the statement, S)he will have a firm commitment to, and an appreciation of, multilateral cooperation and will have a demonstrated capacity to be objective and impartial. (S)he will also be an effective communicator.
The statement said: “An individual may be nominated for the position of managing director by a fund governor or an executive director during a nomination period.
“This nomination period shall commence on March 14, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. Washington, D.C. time and will close on April 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Washington, D.C. time.
“All nominations shall be communicated to the fund secretary, who shall obtain confirmation from each nominee of his or her willingness to be considered as a candidate.
“The fund secretary shall hold the names of the nominees in confidence until the end of the nomination period.”
It noted that:”At the end of the nomination period, the secretary shall disclose to the executive board the names of those nominees who have confirmed their desire to be candidates.
“If the number of candidates exceeds three, the executive board will keep the names of these nominees in confidence until it has drawn up a shortlist of three candidates, taking into account the above candidate profile without geographical preferences.
“The shortlisting process will be implemented through indications of which candidates receive the most support among directors, taking into account the fund’s weighted voting system.
“This is with the objective of completing the shortlisting process within seven days following the disclosure to the board of the candidates.
“Although the executive board may adopt a shortlist by a majority of the votes cast, the objective of the executive board is to adopt a shortlist by consensus. The shortlist shall be published by the fund.”
The statement adds: “The executive board will meet with the shortlisted candidates (or all of the candidates if there were fewer than four) in Washington, D.C.
“Thereafter, the executive board will meet to discuss the strengths of the candidates and make a selection.
“Although the executive board may select a managing director by a majority of the votes cast, the objective of the board is to select the managing director by consensus to complete the selection process by the end of April 2024 ,” it said.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.