Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Name	Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Office	Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Term start	1 March 2021
Office1	Minister of Finance of Nigeria
Term start1	17 July 2003
Term end1	21 June 2006
Term start2	17 August 2011
Term end2	29 May 2015
Office3	Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria
Term start3	21 June 2006
Term end3	30 August 2006
Alma mater	Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Awards	Time 100 (2021), Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women (multiple)

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian-American economist and international development expert who has held several high-profile global leadership positions. She made history in 2021 by becoming the first woman and first African to serve as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Previously, she had a distinguished 25-year career at the World Bank, rising to the position of Managing Director, and served two terms as the Finance Minister of Nigeria, where she spearheaded major economic reforms.

Early life and education

Born in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, her father, Chukwuka Okonjo, was the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku. She left Nigeria at age 18 to pursue her undergraduate studies in the United States. She earned an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University in 1976, graduating *magna cum laude*. She later received a Ph.D. in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981, with her dissertation focusing on agricultural economics in West Africa.

Career at the World Bank

She joined the World Bank in 1982 as a development economist and had a rapid ascent through the institution's ranks. Her roles included serving as the Country Director for several nations, overseeing operations in Jordan, Yemen, and across Eastern Europe. In 2007, she was appointed as a Managing Director by then-President Robert Zoellick, becoming one of the highest-ranking officials at the World Bank Group. During her tenure, she managed the World Bank's portfolio in Africa, South Asia, and Europe, and championed initiatives for climate change financing and support for low-income countries.

Minister of Finance of Nigeria

Appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, her first term was marked by aggressive reforms to stabilize the Nigerian economy. She led negotiations with the Paris Club that resulted in the cancellation of approximately \$30 billion of Nigeria's external debt. She also implemented the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System to enhance transparency. Reappointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, she oversaw the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and championed the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria program. Her tenure faced challenges, including a contentious attempt to remove the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, which sparked nationwide protests.

Director-General of the World Trade Organization

Her election to lead the World Trade Organization followed a prolonged selection process and strong support from the African Union and the European Union. Upon taking office in Geneva, she immediately focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on global trade, advocating for equitable vaccine access. She successfully brokered a landmark agreement on fisheries subsidies at the MC12 conference and has worked to revive the Appellate Body of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. Her agenda emphasizes reforming the multilateral trading system to be more inclusive and responsive to contemporary challenges like digital trade and environmental sustainability.

Other roles and affiliations

Beyond her official posts, she has served on numerous advisory boards and commissions. She was the Chair of the GAVI vaccine alliance board and a member of the African Risk Capacity agency. She has also served on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She is a founding member of the African Union's African Leaders Malaria Alliance and has been a senior advisor at Lazard and a Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Awards and recognition

Her global stature is reflected in extensive recognition. She has been listed among the *Time* 100 Most Influential People and the Forbes World's 100 Most Powerful Women on multiple occasions. She has received honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions including Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Trinity College, Dublin. Other notable honors include the Global Leadership Award from the Vital Voices Global Partnership and being named African of the Year by the *Forbes Africa* magazine. In 2023, she was inducted into the Academy of Achievement.

Category:Nigerian economists Category:World Trade Organization officials Category:Harvard University alumni