Nigeria’s former Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
The Havard University Graduate who had the backing of the African and European Union defeated her South Korean opponent Yoo Myung hee who had the backing of the United States by a wide margin according to reports.
Okonjo-Iweala served as the Manager Director of Operations at the World Bank after serving for 25 years as a Development Economist.
She also served as a Minister twice in Nigeria under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo (Foreign Affairs) and Goodluck Jonathan (Finance/Economy).
She has received recognition and she also won numerous awards both home and abroad. Here is a look at 20 of them;
- 100 Most Powerful Women in the World. (FORBES, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014)
- Top 3ost Powerful Women in Africa. (FORBES, 2014)
- Top 100 Global Thinkers in Foreign Policy. (Guardian, 2011 and 2012)
- Top 100 most inspiring people in the World Delivering for Girls and Women (Women Deliver, 2011
- Vanguard Award. (Howard University, 2017)
- Power with Purpose Award, Devex Development Communications Network, 2016.
- David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, 2014
- President of the Italian Republic Gold Medal, Pia Manzu Centre, 2011
- TIME’s European Heroes Award, 2004
- Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East, Emerging Markets Magazine
- Women’s Economic Empowerment Award, WEConnect International, 2015
- Madeleine K. Albright Global Development Award, Aspen Institute.
- Global Fairness Award, Global Fairness Initiative, 2016
- Global Finance Minister of the Year, 2005.
- She has honorary degrees from 14 of the most prestigious universities in the World: Yale, Pennsylvania, Trinity College, Dublin among others.
