Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

**Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala** GCON (dem born am 13 June 1954) be Nigerian economist, wey she dey serve as de Director-General of de World Trade Organization since March 2021. She be de first woman den first African make she lead de World Trade Organization as director-general.

Na she previously dey for de boards of Danone, Standard Chartered Bank, MINDS: Mandela Institute for Development Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, One Campaign, GAVI: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, Rockefeller Foundation, R4D: Results for Development, ARC: African Risk Capacity den Earthshot Prize plus odas. She sanso previously tap for de Twitter Board of Directors top, wey she step down insyd February 2021 insyd connection plus ein appointment as director-general of de World Trade Organization.

Okonjo-Iweala dey serve at de Brookings Institution as a non-resident distinguished fellow plus de Africa Growth Initiative insyd dema Global Economy den Development Program. She be Commissioner Emeritus den Co-Chair of Global Commission for de Economy den Climate top. At de World Bank, na she get a 25-year career as a development economist; wey she rise make she cam turn Managing Director give Operations from 2007 to 2011. Okonjo-Iweala be de first Nigerian woman wey serve two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria; initially, under Presido Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2006; den secondly, under Presido Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015. Subsequently, from June to August 2006, she serve as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. Insyd 2005, *Euromoney* name am Global Finance Minister of de Year.

## Ein early life den education
Dem born Okonjo-Iweala insyd Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Nigeria, wey na ein poppie, Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, be de Obi (king) of de Obahai royal family of Ogwashi-Ukwu insyd Nigeria.

Na she briefly attend Queen's School, Enugu; wey she later relocate make she live den to further ein education insyd St. Anne's School, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State; wey she sanso attend de International School, Ibadan, insyd Oyo State. Insyd 1973 she move go de United States make she study at Harvard University wey she graduate *magna cum laude* plus an AB insyd Economics insyd 1976. She earn a master's degree insyd city planning insyd 1978 wey she obtain ein PhD insyd regional economics den development insyd 1981 from de Massachusetts Institute of Technology plus de thesis *Credit policy, rural financial markets,* *den Nigeria's agricultural development*. She receive an international fellowship from de American Association of University Women (AAUW), wey support ein doctoral studies.

## Ein career

### World Bank
Na Okonjo-Iweala get a 25-year career at de World Bank insyd Washington, D.C., as a development economist wey she rise to de No. 2 position of Managing Director, Operations. As Managing Director, she get oversight responsibility give de World Bank’s $81 billion operational portfolio insyd Africa, South Asia, Europe, den Central Asia. Na Okonjo-Iweala spearhead chaw World Bank initiatives make dem assist low-income countries during de 2008–2009 food crises den later during de financial crisis. Insyd 2010, she chair de IDA replenishment, de World Bank ein successful drive make dem raise $49.3 billion insyd grants den low-interest credit give de world ein poorest country. During ein tym for de World Bank, na she sanso be a member of de Commission on Effective Development Cooperation plus Africa, wey Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen set am wey dem hold meetings between April den October 2008.

### Insyd government
Na Okonjo-Iweala serve twice as Nigeria ein Finance Minister (2003–2006 den 2011–2015) den she briefly act as Foreign Minister insyd 2006. She be de first woman make she hold both positions. During ein first tenure as Finance Minister insyd de administration of Presido Olusegun Obasanjo, na she spearhead negotiations plus de Paris Club wey lead to de elimination of US$30 billion of Nigeria ein debt, wey dey include de outright cancellation of US$18 billion. Insyd 2003, she lead efforts make dem improve Nigeria ein macroeconomic management wey dey include de implementation of an oil-price based fiscal rule. Na dem save revenues wey dey accrue above a reference benchmark oil price insyd a special account, de "Excess Crude Account," wey help make e reduce macroeconomic volatility. Okonjo-Iweala sanso be instrumental insyd wey she help Nigeria obtain ein first ever sovereign credit rating (of BB minus) from Fitch Ratings den Standard & Poor’s insyd 2006. She sanso introduce de practice of publishing de federal, state, den local government shares of revenue from de country ein federal account. Na dat action go a long way in increasing transparency insyd governance at all levels of government, particularly de sub-national level.      

After ein first term as Finance Minister, she serve two months as Minister of Foreign Affairs insyd 2006. She return to de World Bank as a Managing Director insyd December 2007.       

Insyd 2011, na dem re-appoint Okonjo-Iweala as Minister of Finance insyd Nigeria plus de expanded portfolio of de Coordinating Minister give de Economy by Presido Goodluck Jonathan. During ein second tenure as Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo-Iweala lead reforms wey enhance transparency of government accounts den strengthen institutions against corruption, wey dey include de implementation of de GIFMS (Government Integrated Financial Management System), de IPPMS (Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management System), den de TSA (Treasury Single Accounts). As of February 2015, na de IPPIS platform eliminate 62,893 ghost workers from de system wey e save de government about $1.25 billion insyd de process.         

Ein legacy dey include strengthening de country ein public financial systems den dey stimulate de housing sector plus de establishment of de Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Corporation (NMRC) insyd 2013. Under ein leadership, na de National Bureau of Statistics carry out a re-basing exercise of de Gross Domestic Product (GDP), de first insyd 24 years, wey see Nigeria emerge as de largest economy insyd Africa. She sanso empower women den youth plus de Growing Girls and Women in Nigeria Programme (GWIN), a gender-responsive budgeting system, den de highly acclaimed Youth Enterprise plus Innovation Programme (YouWIN); make e support entrepreneurs, wey create thousands of jobs. As part of Goodluck Jonathan ein administration, she receive death threats wey na she endure de kidnapping of ein mommie wen she try make she sanitise Nigeria ein fuel subsidy payments to sam marketers insyd 2012.           

For addition to ein role insyd government, Okonjo-Iweala serve for Commission on Growth and Development (2006–2009) top, wey Nobel Prize winner Professor Michael Spence lead am. She be a member of de International Monetary den Finance Committee of de IMF (2003–2006 den 2011–2015) den de United Nations’ Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel for Post-2015 Development Agenda (2012–2013) top. She sanso co-chair de Global Partnership give Effective Development Cooperation plus UK Secretary Justine Greening. Insyd 2012, na she be a candidate give Presido of de World Bank, wey she run against former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo den Dartmouth College President Jim Yong Kim; if na dem elect am, she go be de organization ein first female presido.

### Later career
After she lef government, Okonjo-Iweala cam turn a member of de International Commission for Financing Global Education Opportunity (2015–2016) top, wey Gordon Brown chair am, den de Eminent Persons Group for Global Financial Governance top, wey de G20 Finance Ministers den Central Bank Governors establish am (2017–2018). Since 2014, she dey co-chair de Global Commission give de Economy den Climate, plus Nicholas Stern den Paul Polman. She sanso serve as Chair of de Board of Gavi, de Vaccine Alliance (2016–2020).  

Okonjo-Iweala be de founder of Nigeria ein first indigenous opinion-research organization, NOI-Polls. She sanso found de Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (C-SEA), a development research think-tank wey base insyd Abuja, wey she be a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at de Center for Global Development den de Brookings Institution.   

Since 2019, na Okonjo-Iweala be part of UNESCO ein International Commission for de Futures of Education top, wey Sahle-Work Zewde chair am. Since 2019, she sanso dey serve for de High-Level Council top on Leadership & Management give Development of de Aspen Management Partnership for Health (AMP Health). Insyd 2020, de International Monetary Fund ein Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva appoint am to an external advisory group make she provide input for policy challenges top. Insyd 2020, de African Union (AU) sanso appoint am as special envoy make she solicit international support to help de continent deal plus de economic impact of de COVID-19 pandemic, sana World Health Organization COVID-19 Special Envoy.      

Insyd June 2020, na Nigerian Presido Muhammadu Buhari nominate Okonjo-Iweala as de country ein candidate make she be director-general of de World Trade Organization (WTO). She later advance to de final round of de election den eventually she compete plus Yoo Myung-hee. Ahead of de vote, na she receive de backing of de European Union give ein candidacy. Insyd October 2020, de United States government indicate say e no go back Okonjo-Iweala ein candidacy. De WTO insyd ein formal report say dat Okonjo-Iweala "clearly carry de largest support by Members insyd de final round; den, she enjoy broad support from Members from all levels of development den from all geographic regions wey do so thru out de process". For 5 February 2021, Yoo Myung-hee announce ein withdrawal from de race in "close consultation plus de United States". According to a statement dem issue from de United States Trade Representative, “De United States dey take note of today ein decision by de Republic of Korea ein Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee make he withdraw ein candidacy give Director General of de WTO. De Biden-Harris Administration be pleased make dem express ein strong support give de candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as de next Director General of de WTO." Na dem unanimously appoint Okonjo-Iweala as de next director-general for 15 February. She begin ein career as Director General of de WTO for 1 March 2021.             

Insyd early 2021, na dem appoint Okonjo-Iweala as co-chair, alongside Tharman Shanmugaratnam den Lawrence Summers, of de G20 High Level Independent Panel (HLIP) for financing de global commons top give pandemic preparedness den response wey na e be one of de founders of de COVAX Facility, wey dem design am make e get affordable vaccines to Low den Middle-Income Countries. Insyd July 2021, she join de Multilateral Leaders Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccines, Therapeutics, den Diagnostics top give developing countries, wey na Tedros Adhanom den David Malpass co-chair. Insyd January 2022, Okonjo-Iweala join De Group of thirty (G30), an independent body of distinguished policymakers from around de world.             

Insyd November 2024, dem reappoint am make she serve ein second term as de director-general of de World Trade Organization(WTO).

## Ein life matter
She be married to Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon from Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. Dem born four kiddie, wey include author Uzodinma Iweala. 

During ein campaign make she cam turn de next director-general of de WTO, na dem reveal say Okonjo-Iweala cam turn a US citizen insyd 2019 after she spend chaw decades she dey job den dey study for der. Given de ongoing trade tensions between China den de US, na analysts comment dat de disclosure go be a contributing factor insyd shaping China ein attitude towards am.

## Oda activities

### Government agencies

* Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Member of de International Advisory Board (since 2017)

### International organizations

* Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Member of de International Advisory Panel (since 2016)
* OECD/UNDP Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), Member of de Board
* GAVI, Chair of de Board (2016–2020)
* African Development Bank (AfDB), Ex-Officio Member of de Board of Governors (2003–2006, 2011–2015)
* International Monetary Fund (IMF), Member of de International Monetary den Finance Committee (2003–2006, 2011–2015)
* Joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee, Chair (2004)

### Corporate boards

* Danone, Member of de Mission Committee (since 2020)
* Twitter, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2018)
* Standard Chartered, Independent Non-executive Member of the Board of Directors (since 2017)
* Lazard, Senior Advisor (since 2015)

### Non-profit organizations

* Africa Europe Foundation (AEF), Member of de High-Level Group of Personalities for Africa-Europe Relations top (since 2020)
* Carnegie Endowment give International Peace, Member of de Board of Trustees (since 2019)
* Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Member of de Advisory Board (since 2018)
* Results for Development (R4D), Member of de Board of Directors (since 2014)
* Women's World Banking, Member of de Africa Advisory Council (since 2014)
* The B Team, Member (since 2013)
* Friends of de Global Fund Africa, Member of de Board (since 2007)
* Global Financial Integrity (GFI), Member of de Advisory Board (since 2007)
* African Risk Capacity, Chair of de Board
* African University of Science and Technology, Chair of de Board
* Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Member of de Advisory Board
* Global Business Coalition give Education, Member of de Advisory Board
* International Growth Centre (IGC), Senior Advisor
* Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS), Member of de Advisory Board
* Mercy Corps, Member of de Global Leadership Council
* Rockefeller Foundation, Member of de Board of Trustees (2008–2018)
* Nelson Mandela Institution, Chair of de Board
* One Campaign, Member of de Board
* Oxford Martin School, Member of de Advisory Council
* Vital Voices, Member of de Global Advisory Council
* World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Foundation, former Member of de Board
* World Economic Forum member of de Board of Trustees

## Recognition

### Awards
Okonjo-Iweala receive chaw recognition and awards. Na dem list am as one of de 50 Greatest World Leaders (*Fortune*, 2015), de Top 100 Most Influential People insyd de World (*TIME*, 2014 den 2021), de Top 100 Global Thinkers (*Foreign Policy*, 2011 den 2012), de Top 100 Most Powerful Women insyd de World (*Forbes*, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022 den 2023), de 25 Most Influential Women insyd de World (*Financial Times*, 2021), de Top 3 Most Powerful Women insyd Africa (*Forbes*, 2012), de Top 10 Most Influential Women insyd Africa (*Forbes*, 2011), de Top 100 Women insyd de World (*The Guardian*, 2011), de Top 150 Women insyd de World (*Newsweek*, 2011), de Top 100 most inspiring people insyd de World Delivering for Girls den Women (Women Deliver, 2011). Na dem list am among 73 "brilliant" business influencers insyd de world by Condé Nast International.

Insyd 2019, na dem elect Okonjo-Iweala to de American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Na dem sanso confer High National Honours from de Republic of Côte d'Ivoire den de Republic of Liberia. Na she sanso be de recipient of Nigeria ein second highest national honor Grand Commander of de Order of the Niger (GCON, 2022) den Nigeria ein third highest National Honors Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). She sanso receive de Grand Cross of de Order of Rio Branco from de Federative Republic of Brazil insyd 2023. Oda honors dey include:

* 2004 – *TIME*’s European Heroes Award
* 2004 – Finance Minister of the Year, *Africa Investor Magazine*
* 2005 – Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East, *Emerging Markets Magazine*
* 2005 – Global Finance Minister of the Year, *Euromoney*
* 2005 – Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East, *The Banker*
* 2010 – Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award
* 2010 – Global Leadership Award, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
* 2011 – Global Leadership Award, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
* 2011 – President of the Italian Republic Gold Medal, Pia Manzu Centre
* 2014 – David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award
* 2016 – Global Fairness Award, Global Fairness Initiative
* 2016 – Power with Purpose Award, Devex Development Communications Network
* 2017 – Madeleine K. Albright Global Development Award, Aspen Institute
* 2017 – Women’s Economic Empowerment Award, WEConnect International
* 2017 – Vanguard Award, Howard University
* 2017 – BBC's 100 women
* 2020 – African of the Year, Forbes Africa
* 2022 – 50 Over 50: EMEA Award, Forbes
* 2022 – Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement
* 2022 – Humanitarian Award for a Lifetime of Public Service and Advocacy of Sustainable International Development, United Nations Association of New York 
* 2023 – dem honor am plus de Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award.
* 2023 – dem induct am into de International Women’s Forum (IWF) Hall of Fame

### Honorary degrees
Okonjo-Iweala receive honorary Doctorate Degrees from 21 universities worldwide, wey dey include sam from de most prestigious colleges:

* Brown University (2006),
* Colby College (2007)
* Trinity College, Dublin (2007)
* Amherst College (2009)
* University of Pennsylvania (2013)
* Yale University (2015)
* Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica
* LUISS Guido Carli, Italy (2021) 
* American University (2022) 
* Nyenrode Business University (2022) 
* London School of Economics and Political Science (2023) 
* Glasgow University (2023)
* University of Amsterdam (2022) 
* University of Oxford (2024)

She sanso receive degrees from a host of Nigerian universities wey dey include Abia State University, Delta State University, Abraka, Oduduwa University, Babcock University, den de Universities of Port Harcourt, Calabar, den Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). 

Insyd 2019, na dem award Okonjo Iweala an honorary degree from Tel Aviv University. Insyd June 2024, Okonjo-Iweala receive an honorary degree from de University of Oxford.

## Works

### Books
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### Articles
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### Talks

* Okonjo-Iweala, Ngozi (March 2007). *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210217205728/https://www.ted.com/talks/ngozi_okonjo_iweala_want_to_help_africa_do_business_here Want to Help Africa? Do Business Here]* (TED Talk). Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. 
* Okonjo-Iweala, Ngozi (June 2007). *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210217210014/https://www.ted.com/talks/ngozi_okonjo_iweala_aid_versus_trade Aid versus trade]* (TED Talk). Archived from the original on 17 February 2021.
* Okonjo-Iweala, Ngozi (10 January 2014). *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UMI9-6gmzE Don't trivialise corruption, tackle it]* (TEDxEuston). Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.

## Gallery

File:Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala WEF Davos 2010.jpg|Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for de 2007 World Economic Forum
File:Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - World Economic Forum on Africa 2012.jpg
File:Ngozi okonjo-iweala world economic forum.jpg|Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for de 2007 World Economic Forum
File:The Managing Director, World Bank, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala calls on the Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, in New Delhi on May 12, 2011.jpg|Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala call on de Union Finance Minister, 13th Presido of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee, insyd New Delhi for May 12, 2011
File:Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Finance Minister and former Managing Director of the World Bank, speaking at the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, 20 January 2020 20200120154611 GMCB0323 (49419243418).jpg|Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, den former Managing Director of de World Bank, dey speak for de UK-Africa Investment Summit insyd London
File:Umaru YarAdua 080630-F-1644L-111.jpg
File:20th Anniversary of Treasury’s Office of Technical Assistance (5621907811).jpg
File:Jiang Jianqing, 2009 World Economic Forum on Africa.jpg
File:African Finance Ministers IMF 2003 Annual Meeting - IMF 62ph030920GH.jpg


## References


## External links

* Full biograpny and CV (WTO site)
* Time Europe's Heroes of 2004
* The Center for Global Development and ''The Washington Post'' Present: A World Bank President Candidate Event: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala