Nigerian-American scholar of economics and Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.
Okonjo-Iweala, 68, emerged the 91st most powerful woman in the list, including the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde and United State’s Vice President Kamala Harris as first, second and third respectively.
Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to the Forbes record, she has over 30 years of experience as an economist and international development professional, working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.
She also became the first-ever woman and African to o serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
In 2023, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was named by Financial Times as one of the 25 most influential women in the world.
She was nominated by by Christine Lagarde (President of European Central Bank), Jane Fraser (CEO of Citigroup), Elizabeth Warren (Member of the United States Senate), Billie Jean King, Malala and Greta Thunberg.
In Christine Lagarde’s statement, she said she has known Ngozi Okonjo0Iweala since 2005 and have seen her work tirelessly as a seasoned negotiator and crisis manager.
“Her 25 years at the World Bank demonstrated her resolve, including her handling of the food and financial crisis of 2008-09 and her determination to recover stolen assets,” she said.
“She has shattered glass ceilings with her complete competence, absolute integrity and good humour, becoming the first female finance minister and foreign minister in Nigeria, where she implemented tough reforms to enhance the transparency of the country’s public finances, and is the first woman and first African to lead the WTO,” she added.
“Ngozi is a force to be reckoned with.” Christine Lagarde wrote about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the FT’s 25 most influential women of 2021.
