THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON THIS WEEK: Okonjo Iweala

Hello everyone! I welcome you to my corner, where I will be bringing you the most influential people in the world every week. Those people who have made and still making positive impacts in our world. They are those we can take as role models because of their values and great achievement in the world.

The most influential person this week is ‘Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’.

She is a Nigerian-American, who was born on June 13, 1954, in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the WTO’s seventh Director-General. She became the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General on March 1, 2021. Her term will expire on August 31, 2025.

She has over 30 years of experience as an economist and international development expert.

She served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (2016-2020), the African Risk Capacity (2014-2020), and the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. She previously worked at Lazard as a Senior Advisor and on the boards of Standard Chartered PLC and Twitter Inc., Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has been named an AU COVID-19 Special Envoy as well as a WHO COVID-19 Special Envoy.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s Finance Minister twice (2003-2006, 2011-2015), the first woman to hold the position. She received numerous awards and honors from international organizations, national governments, charities, and universities all over the world.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon. They are the parents of four children and three grandchildren.

We wish you more achievements ma.