Okonjo-Iweala now 44th most powerful woman in the world

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, is now Forbes’ 44th most powerful woman in the world, moving 39 places up from her earlier 83rd position.

In the 2014 ranking of the 100 most powerful women in the world, Forbes described Okonjo-Iweala, 59, as being key to developing the reform programmes that helped stabilise Nigeria’s economy and improve governmental transparency.

But for a fourth consecutive year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel led the American-dominated annual list, followed by Janet Yellen – the first-ever female chair of the Federal Reserve, who made a strong debut in the number two spot.

Other African women nominated alongside Okonjo-Iweala are Joyce Banda, president of Malawi (No 40), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia (No 70) and Folorunsho Alakija (No 94).

In accompanying profile, Forbes said that since Okonjo-Iweala’s return as minister of finance, Nigeria’s GDP “has displayed robust growth — 6.87% growth between 2012 and 2013 — especially given the relatively sluggish global recovery”.

“Okonjo-Iweala was key to developing the reform programmes that helped stabilise Nigeria’s economy and improve governmental transparency”, adding that the finance minister has now turned NANher attention to Nigeria’s unemployment problem.
Forbes’ this year’s list features nine heads of state, 28 CEOs, 18 entrepreneurs, 13 billionaires and nine celebrities, according to the business magazine’s summary.
Forbes says the 100 female leaders have a social media footprint that exceeds 812 million followers and fans.
Yellen at number 2 position is followed by, in order: philanthropist Melinda Gates; Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde; former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton; General Motors CEO Mary Barra; US first lady Michelle Obama; Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and IBM CEO Virginia Rometty.