Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: An Economist Par Excellence

Excellence is the desire of many. But the demands that come with its attainment is what separates the girls from the women. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a trailblazer.

For her dedication to her field and unwavering determination to succeed, she is NRTC’s Personality of the Month for February.

Who is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala?

Born on June 13, 1954, in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian-American economist and international development expert. She is a board member of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and Twitter. Also, she sits on the board of Standard Chartered Bank and the African Risk Capacity (ARC).

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala was appointed the Director-General of the World Trade Organization on 15 February 2021. This makes her the first woman and first African to hold the position.

Okonjo-Iweala is an alumnus of Queen’s School, Enugu, St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, and the International School Ibadan.

She is a graduate of Economics from Harvard University. She bagged her PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.

Her work speaks for her

In 2012, she contested for the office of the World Bank President. Prior to that, she served as a development economist at the World Bank, in a career that spanned 25 years.

During this period, she rose to the number two position of Managing Director of Operations, a post she held from 2007 to 2011.

She has held the position of Nigeria’s Finance Minister twice; first from 2003 to 2006 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, and from 2011 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan.

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With this achievement, she is the first woman to hold the position as Nigeria’s Finance Minister. In addition, she is the first woman to hold the office twice in Nigeria. Furthermore, she is the only Finance Minister to have worked under two different administrations.

Recognition & Awards

Her achievements have not gone unnoticed and she is honoured with several awards. Among them are:

• 2020 – African of the Year, Forbes Africa.
• 2017 – Women’s Economic Empowerment Award, WE Connect International
• 2016 – Global Fairness Award, Global Fairness Initiative
• 2015 – Top 50 Greatest World Leaders, Fortune

• 2014 – David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award
• 2012 – Top 3 Most Powerful Women in Africa, Forbes
• 2011 – Global Leadership Award, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
• 2005 – Global Finance Minister of the Year, Euromoney
• 2004 – TIME’s European Heroes Award

Okonjo-Iweala has honorary degrees from 14 universities worldwide. She is married to Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon from Abia State, Nigeria and they are blessed with four children.

For Okonjo-Iweala, it is obvious that success is a journey and not a destination. Like her unmistakable head gear, she stands and and her work has inspired many people across the continent.

She is not only an economist par excellence; she is a role model to individuals who aspire for greatness.