World Bank presidential nominee Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria leaves after an interview at the World Bank headquarters building in Washington April 9, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The World Bank should deliver for the world's poor and needy groups and endeavor to help create jobs for different countries, Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a candidate for World Bank President, said here on Monday.

Lack of quality jobs is a common challenge for many countries across the world, and the World Bank needs to step up efforts to work in partnership with other stakeholders to address key economic and social issues facing its member countries, she said at an event organized by the Center for Global Development, a Washington-based think tank.

The World Bank was poised to pick a candidate by its Spring Meetings scheduled to kick off in Washington DC late April, to replace Robert Zoellick, whose term ends at the end of June.  

The World Bank, which provides loans to developing countries with an official goal of  reducing poverty, has always been headed by an American since its inception after the World War Two.