(2 minutes read)
· Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named the Forbes African of the Year, 2020: she is Nigeria’s former minister of Finance and former Managing Director of the World Bank
· Interestingly, last year’s Forbes award was won by another Nigerian Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank
· The other Nigerians who bagged the coveted recognition include Muhammad Sanusi (2011) and Aliko Dangote (2014), the richest person in Africa
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named the Forbes African of the Year, 2020. She is Nigeria’s former minister of Finance and former Managing Director of the World Bank. Recently, she was in the news as the potential director general of World trade Organization (WTO). Consensus on her candidature was marred by the veto applied by the Trump Administration. The selection of the Director General of WTO is still pending. Hopefully, a decision in her favor would be taken by the new Administration, which would take charge in the US under President-Elect Joe Biden. He will assume office on January 20, next year.
Interestingly, last year’s Forbes award was won by another Nigerian Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (who won twice in 2013 and 2019). The other Nigerians who bagged the coveted recognition included Muhammad Sanusi (2011) and Aliko Dangote (2014), the richest person in Africa.
The Forbes Magazine announced this year’s winner through a tweet. Acknowledging the recognition, 66 –year old Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that she was thrilled to be named as the Forbes African of the year 2020 and dedicated the coveted recognition to all those Africans suffering from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
It has to be seen how the present recognition would help her to get the post of the Director General of WTO. She has been the overwhelming choice for the post and commands majority support of the 164 member –nations.
