Nigeria’s former finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has dedicated to Africa her recognition by Forbes-CNBC as 2020 African of the Year.
The award comes weeks after her name was submitted as the World Trade Organisation’s Director General designate – the candidate who has garnered the most support to head the organization.
It is the latest honour clinched by the multi award winning development economist and former Managing Director of the World Bank.
While expressing her delight over the feat, Okonjo-Iweala dedicated the award to Africans facing the health and socio-economic challenges of Covid-19 during a very difficult year.
“Thrilled to be named @forbesafrica -CNBC 2020 African of the Year following in the footsteps of my great Brothers @PaulKagame and @akin_adesina.
“This award is for fellow Africans suffering the health & economic impact of Covid19. The energy and resilience of Africans inspires me!” she wrote on Twitter.
Okonjo-Iweala who served twice as Nigeria’s minister of finance is one of the African Union Special Envoys appointed to mobilize international support for Africa’s efforts to address the Covid-19 economic fallout.
She is also the World Health Organisation (WHO) Special Envoy for the newly inaugurated Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) accelerator and its offshoot the COVAX facility.
