O.T. On Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8, H.E. Nasir el-Rufai, Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, will visit New York to discuss the upcoming Nigerian presidential elections. Minister el-Rufai is at the forefront of Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts, which have drawn praise from the Nigerian public.
The upcoming Nigerian presidential elections (April 2007) will be an important referendum on Nigeria's progress. This election will also mark the first peaceful transition of power between democratically elected Nigerian presidents. Minister el-Rufai, not campaigning himself for the presidency, visits New York as a representative of the current Nigerian government to discuss the importance of the upcoming election and key issues facing the next Nigerian president.
Bio - H.E. Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja
Nasir el-Rufai has been Minister of the Abuja Federal Capital Territory since 16 July 2003. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He received education at the elite Barewa College in Zaria, Nigeria and at Ahmadu Bello University, also in Zaria. He also has an MBA from Harvard University and has attended programs at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. From November 1999 to July 2003, he was the head of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and Member/Secretary of the National Council of Privatization where he spearheaded the privatization of many government owned companies.
Under his leadership, Abuja has experienced a radical improvement of infrastructure, all of which has been constructed under new land use regulations designed to prevent corruption. Along with the President and members of the Economic Management Team, Mr. el-Rufai currently spearheads an effort to reform Nigerian public service. Mr. el-Rufai has also contributed to efforts to reform government procurements, establish an extractive industry transparency initiative, and oversee public expenditure. These initiatives aim to create regulations and procedures that will permanently undermine the idea that corruption and bribery are the only ways to do business in Nigeria.
Business Council for International Understanding
