Engines of Growth and Development in Africa: Energy and Natural Resources Obiageli Ezekwesili World Bank Opening Remarks by H.E. Kailash Ruhee, Ambassador of Mauritius to the United States

Friday, October 24 The Westin Galleria The Roof, 24th floor 5060 W. Alabama Registration: 11:30 a.m. Program: Noon- 1:30 p.m. Members: $35 Non-members: $45 Table: $500  Africa has grown impressively over the last ten years. A fifth of its countries have seen sustained annual growth above 5 percent each year for the past three years, more than many developed countries have experienced. But the region has major infrastructure deficits--in particular in the energy sector--that threaten to stymy further growth. How can the potential for growth in the sector be increased? What can be done to address the shortcomings in the sector? And how might Africa's rich natural resources underground be tapped to improve poverty reduction above ground? Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili is vice president for the Africa region at the World Bank. She previously held positions in the Nigerian government as advisor to the President of Nigeria on budget monitoring and minister of solid minerals development. In the latter post she reformed Nigeria's mining sector to meet internationally recognized standards. As education minister, she led the country's on-going educational reforms. Ezekwesili served as the chairperson for the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, obtaining the first-ever audit of the oil and gas sector and pioneering Nigeria’s voluntary adherence to the EITI Principles. Oby is known and respected as dynamic and passionate speaker and advocate for reform. She earned a Masters in International Law & Diplomacy from University of Lagos, along with a Masters of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard. Ezekwesili will speak to Houston teachers Saturday for the Teach Africa Educator's Workshop.