International Mon<\/span>etary Fund (IMF) Manag<\/span> ing Director Christine Lagarde will visit Nigeria and Niger from December 18 \u201322, 2011, on her first trip to Africa since her appointment earlier this year.<\/span><\/p>\n Ms. Lagarde will hear from policymakers, the African private sector, and civil society about the challenges facing African countries and underline the IMF\u2019s commitment to further reinforce the it\u2019s partnership with Sub-Saharan Africa<\/span><\/p>\n In Nigeria, a statement from the Fund, said the IMF boss will hold meetings in Abuja with the leadership of the country, including President Goodluck Jonathan and Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She will take part in a round-table discussion in Lagos on Africa\u2019s Future: Responding to today\u2019s global economic challenges, alongside the private sector, academia, civil society organisations and research institutes.<\/span><\/p>\n In Niger, Ms. Lagarde will meet with President Mahamadou Issoufou and take part in a cabinet meeting focused on \u201cThe Challenges of economic development in Niger\u201d. She will also address the National Assembly, and meet with representatives of the financial institutions and the private sector..<\/span><\/p>\n