Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | |
---|---|
![]() Okonjo-Iweala in 2021 | |
7th Director-General of the World Trade Organization | |
Assumed office 1 March 2021 | |
Preceded by | Roberto Azevêdo |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 17 August 2011 – 29 May 2015 | |
President | Goodluck Jonathan |
Preceded by | Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga |
Succeeded by | Kemi Adeosun |
In office 15 July 2003 – 21 June 2006 | |
President | Olusegun Obasanjo |
Preceded by | Adamu Ciroma |
Succeeded by | Nenadi Usman |
Coordinating Minister for the Economy | |
In office 17 August 2011 – 29 May 2015 | |
President | Goodluck Jonathan |
Preceded by | Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
In office 21 June 2006 – 30 August 2006 | |
President | Olusegun Obasanjo |
Preceded by | Oluyemi Adeniji |
Succeeded by | Joy Ogwu |
Personal details | |
Born | Ogwashi Ukwu, Nigeria | 13 June 1954
Citizenship | Nigeria (1954–present) United States (2019–present)[1] |
Spouse | Ikemba Iweala |
Children | 4, including Uzodinma |
Education | Harvard University (BA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA, PhD) |
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala GCON (/əŋˈɡoʊzi əˈkoʊndʒoʊ ɪˈweɪlə/ ; born 13 June 1954[2]) is a Nigerian economist,[3][4][5][6] who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. She is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director-General.[7][8][9]
She was previously on the boards of Danone, Standard Chartered Bank, MINDS: Mandela Institute for Development Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, One Campaign, GAVI: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, Rockefeller Foundation, R4D: Results for Development, ARC: African Risk Capacity and Earthshot Prize plus others.[10][11][12][13][14] She also previously sat on the Twitter Board of Directors, and stepped down in February 2021 in connection with her appointment as Director-General of the World Trade Organization.[15]
Okonjo-Iweala serves Brookings Institution as a non-resident distinguished fellow with the Africa Growth Initiative in their Global Economy and Development Program.[16][17] She is a Commissioner Emeritus and Co-Chair of Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.[18] At The World Bank, she had a 25-year career as a development economist; rising to become Managing Director for Operations from 2007 to 2011. Okonjo-Iweala was the first Nigerian woman to serve two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria; initially, under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2006; and secondly, under President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015. Subsequently, from June to August 2006, she served as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria. In 2005, Euromoney named her Global Finance Minister of the Year.[19][20][21]