President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said his administration was prepared to do everything to ensure that the economy is strengthened. Speaking after swearing in the new Chief Economic Adviser, Professor Nwanze Okidegbe, and the Special Adviser, Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye, the President said a strong economy was critical to the survival and growth of the nation.
He stated that, "without a strong economy, you cannot provide health services, education, roads and other social needs of the population; in fact, globally, you will not be reckoned with".
President Jonathan told the new advisers that they were "chosen to play a key role in supporting the Economic Team, not for political reasons" adding that their antecedents were also instrumental in determining their choice.
Until this appointment, Professor Sylvester Monye was Secretary of the National Planning Commission and the Economic Team, while Professor Nwanze Okidegbe was a Senior Consultant with the World Bank and United Nations' Development Programme.