The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has paid an emotional tribute to deputy minister for Economic Management, Dehpue Y. Zuo.
Ngafuan described Zuo as one of the finest economic minds.
Mr. Zuo has prepared to leave national government for a senior assignment with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In farewell remarks delivered in honor of Zuo, Ngafuan portrayed him as a public servant whose career has stretched from student leadership, and scholarship mobilization to international economic diplomacy, multilateral negotiations, and the ongoing macroeconomic reform program.
Ngafuan said, Zuo will depart for Abuja, Nigeria, to assume responsibilities as Commissioner for Economic Affairs, and Agriculture at the ECOWAS Commission, an assignment that places him at the center of some of West Africa’s most consequential economic, agricultural, trade, and regional-integration issues.
The ECOWAS Department of Economic Affairs, and Agriculture brings together portfolios covering trade, taxation and customs, private-sector development, free movement, research and statistics, multilateral surveillance, agriculture and rural development, and environmental policy.
Ngafuan described Zuo as intellectually rigorous, but personally humble, adding that his ability to combine technical competence with humility has distinguished him throughout his career.
He also highlighted Zuo’s religious faith, describing him as a man, who understands public service as a responsibility requiring not only professional competence, and hard work, but also prayer and personal conviction.
For Zuo, his departure it marks the transition from managing economic policy within one of the region’s smallest economies to shape policies affecting the wider ECOWAS community.
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