Nigeria’s former finance minister and current director-general of the World Trade Organisation Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named by Forbes as one of World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2022.
Forbes is an American business magazine, owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family, with a particular focus on business, technology, communications, science, politics and law.
Okonjo-Iweala polled over 60 percent of the 15,000 votes in the category at the close of the poll on 2nd of December 2022.
Forbes said, “The World Trade Organisation head, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (No. 91 of 100) continue to play a crucial role in providing financial assistance and promoting global trade as the threat of a global recession rises.”
“An economist and international development professional, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has more than 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America,” the magazine said.
“In March 2021, she became first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
“She has said she believes in the power of trade to lift developing countries out of poverty help them achieve sustainable development.
“Earlier in her career, Okonjo-Iweala had two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, from 2003-2006 and 2011-2015; she also briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006.
“She was also Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance that has immunized 760 million children globally.”
Reacting, the elated WTO boss tweeted about her excitement and the honour given to her by Forbes.
“An honour and a privilege to be part of this list of a very distinguished group of women for the 6th time in my career. Congratulations to my other sisters. Let’s continue to show that good governance, good public policy and a people-centred approach to work matters”, she tweeted.
Winners for the 11th edition of the award shall be presented with the honour on 16th of February 2023, at a ceremony scheduled to be held in Port Louis, Mauritius.
