Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former minister of Finance, former Managing Director of the World Bank, and current front-runner for the top post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation has been named the Forbes African of the Year, 2020.
Forbes Africa announced on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday as it tweeted,
The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…
Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica pic.twitter.com/hlcCDHEMx2
— Forbes Africa (@forbesafrica) December 1, 2020
The honouree of the award would grace the cover of Forbes Africa magazine.
Last year’s edition of the award was won by Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (also a Nigerian), the President of the African Development Bank (2013 and 2019). Other Nigerians that have won include Muhammad Sanusi II (2011), Aliko Dangote (2014), amongst others.
Reacting to the award through her official Twitter handle, she said “Thrilled to be named
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! https://t.co/CKDEyls7T9
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) December 1, 2020
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria (2003–2006, 2011–2015) under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan respectively.
Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman to be the finance minister and the foreign minister of the West African country with a GDP of $502 billion.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala is currently a front-runner for the top post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
