Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala assumed the role of Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 1, 2021.
With over 40 years of experience as a global finance expert, economist, and international development professional, she has worked across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is a staunch advocate for trade as a catalyst for lifting developing countries out of poverty and promoting robust economic growth and sustainable development. Her exceptional negotiation skills have facilitated numerous agreements resulting in win-win outcomes, earning her recognition as an effective consensus builder and trusted mediator among governments and stakeholders worldwide.
Previously, she chaired the boards of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (2016 – 2020) and the African Risk Capacity (2014 – 2020), and co-chaired The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. She served as a Senior Advisor at Lazard and sat on the boards of Standard Chartered PLC and Twitter Inc. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was appointed as an AU COVID-19 Special Envoy and WHO COVID-19 Special Envoy.
A trailblazer, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006, 2011-2015), becoming the first woman to hold the position. She spent 25 years at the World Bank, rising to the position of Managing Director, the institution’s No.2 position.
In 2012, she made history as the first female and African candidate to contest for the presidency of the World Bank Group, supported by Africa and major developing countries in a landmark election for the highest development finance post.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s achievements have been widely recognized. In 2020, she was named Forbes African of the Year and has been ranked by Fortune as one of the 50 Greatest World Leaders (2015) and by Forbes as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World for four consecutive years.
She holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Harvard University and a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is also an accomplished author, with notable works including “Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons” co-authored with Julia Gillard (Penguin Random House, 2020), “Fighting Corruption is Dangerous: The Story Behind the Headlines” (MIT Press, 2018), “Reforming the UnReformable: Lessons from Nigeria” (MIT Press, 2012), and numerous influential articles on global finance and development.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is married to neurosurgeon Dr. Ikemba Iweala. They have four children and five grandchildren.
Congratulations!!
