• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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BusinessDay

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Forbes Africa’s African of the year

BREAKING: Okonjo-Iweala emerges first woman WTO director-general

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been adjudged the ‘2020 African of the Year’, making her well-positioned to take on the next big role, transforming Africa and negotiating on the world stage. Previous winners have been Rwandan President Paul Kagame (2018) and African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina (2019).

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This is after challenging Nigeria’s patriarchy for about 17 years by becoming the longest-serving finance minister, the first foreign minister, and most importantly, the first woman and African to ever hold those positions. Today, she is on the brink of yet another first, as a finalist to the top post as the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Impressively, she has garnered the largest support – 164 members – from all levels of development and geographies following a gruelling five-month competitive vetting process that began with eight candidates.