Nigerian emerges first African to head G24 global secretariat

Thank you Mashaa former member of the Nigerian President’s Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), has served as Director and head of the secretariat of Intergovernmental group from Ronglikur (G24).

Based in Washington, the G24 includes countries that work together to coordinate the position of developing countries on monetary, financial and development issues.

Dr. Masha replaces Marilou Uy, the World Bank’s senior adviser and director of the G24 secretariat from 2015 until her departure. The new appointees emerged after what the institution called an “extensive recruitment process.”

The new director has extensive experience in research, policy and operations on the local and international front, the G24 said in a press statement.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that Mrs Masha is the first African to hold the position since the G24 was established in 1971. Past directors have been from the Asian or Latin American bloc of the members.

His role in Nigeria, as part of the eight-member presidential advisory committee (PEAC), between 2019 and 2022, focuses on advising President Muhammadu Buhari on economic policies. The position allows him to provide direction on PEAC’s work on global economic impact and policy on macroeconomic and sustainable development.

Mrs Masha is a global economist with a history of working in central banks and financial markets, economic management, international debt, finance and development. He has a strong focus on research and implementation of macroeconomic stabilization policies.

He has worked with the International Monetary Fund since 2003. Assignments in more than 10 emerging markets (Asian and African countries) focused on comprehensive economic management, including (i) policy reform advisory services and dialogue with governments (ii) financing and lending programs; (iii) analytical research and economic modeling and forecasting.

In particular, they help design workable solutions for national governments and central banks that fit their circumstances.

They also ensure that major economic and financial policy reforms focus on fiscal and debt sustainability; adequacy of foreign reserves; improving the monetary policy transmission mechanism; achieving depth, safety and soundness in the financial sector; and manage capital flows.

He worked at the Research Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria between 1998 and 2003. He also worked with the World Bank between 1997 and 1998 as well as at the IRIS Center, University of Maryland at College Park, as a consultant.

He is also the IMF Representative for Sierra Leone.

Mrs Masha attended the University of Lagos and the American University in Washington and holds a doctorate in Economics.