Forbes Names Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala ‘African Of The Year’
Nigeria’s former finance minister and the potential World Trade Organisation Director- General, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, has been named ‘African of the Year’ by United States Forbes magazine.
Forbes on Tuesday awarded the Nigerian over her role in fighting for equal access to the Covid-19 vaccine and helping Africa advance on the world stage.
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Forbes said, “Ngozi-Okonjo Iweala as the Chair of Gavi is leading the charge for the equitable distribution of the coveted Covid-19 vaccine in Africa when it arrives. Also a finalist and frontrunner in the race to become the next DG of the World Trade Organization, she is well-positioned to change the narrative of trade.”
” In this issue, we delve into the complex world of Covid-19 vaccine trials, and also turn the spotlight on the NHI, the proposed unified health coverage deliberation in South Africa.”
The New Jersey based business magazine said as the leading candidate for the WTO D-G position, Iweala was the continent’s most promising citizen, leading transformation and change on an international stage this year.
The Nigerian in November won the 2020 International Service Award of the Affairs Council of America.
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Okonjo-Iweala was also in February this year named the next Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow by the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
Reacting to the award, the former finance minister said in a monitored tweet, “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 inspire me!”
