The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso says that the CBN apex bank is making steady progress in stabilising the foreign exchange market and tackling inflation.
Receiving a delegation of scholars from the Harvard Kennedy School at the CBN headquarters in Abuja, Cardoso said that the Bank remained committed to fostering intellectual engagement and driving policy-oriented solutions.
Cardoso, who is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School and the first African elected to the global HKS Alumni Board of Directors, said: “As we reset the Bank, we are committed to being a hub for thought leadership. The exposure you gain from institutions like Harvard is invaluable, and we see this as an opportunity to build long-term alliances.”
The CBN governor explained that while Nigeria’s economy had faced recent challenges, key indicators suggest improvements were underway.
According to him, ongoing reforms are beginning to reflect in greater stability in the foreign exchange market and a gradual moderation in inflationary pressures.
According to the statement by the CBN, Cardoso also cited recent visits by the executives from JP Morgan, Citibank and the International Monetary Fund as signs of renewed investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
“These are individuals who base their decisions on data and trends, not sentiment. Their interest reaffirms that we are on the right path,” he added.
In a speech, the President of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria, Adaora Ndukwe and the HKS Nigeria Trek Delegation Lead, Ms Sheffy Kolade, thanked the CBN for hosting the students and commended the bank’s willingness to engage with future policymakers and provide them with first-hand insights into Nigeria’s economic landscape.
The Africa Trek initiative is designed to foster direct interactions between emerging global leaders and key policymakers on the continent. It provides a platform for in-depth discussions around governance, innovation, economic development and the role of central banking in national progress, the statement said.
The statement explained that the visit was part of the scholars’ Africa Trek, which also included stops in Ghana.
“The delegation comprised 50 students from 19 countries, including representatives from the Harvard Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University.
“It marked the first time a Harvard Africa Trek delegation would visit the Central Bank of Nigeria,” the statement added.
GIK/APA