Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Group of 24 (G-24), pledging to focus on “Optimising Resource Development for Inclusive, Job-Rich Economic Transformation” during his tenure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Edun said the chosen theme reflects all critical forms of resources human, financial, physical, and natural necessary for sustainable economic progress and global development.
According to him, the G-24 under his leadership will promote substantive dialogue and coordinated action aimed at dismantling structural barriers to resource mobilisation and unlocking new pathways to inclusive growth. “This builds on the solid foundation laid by Argentina’s leadership,” he added.
Edun also drew attention to the widening global financial imbalances, noting that the estimated annual financing gap needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stands between $4 trillion and $5 trillion.
He further highlighted the pressing challenge of global demographics, revealing that about 1.2 billion young people are expected to enter the global labour market in the next 10 to 15 years, competing for just 400 million available jobs.
While describing this as both a challenge and an opportunity, Edun called on member nations to strengthen macroeconomic stability, promote economic diversification, and foster private-sector-led growth.
He stressed that such efforts are essential to create economic space for young people to contribute meaningfully to global productivity and development.
