Okonjo-Iweala, A Woman Of Many Firsts

It is no longer news that Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. She is not only a global finance expert, but an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

Before her historic appointment as WTO DG, Okonjo-Iweala was the Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation.

With her over 30 years working experience, here are five areas that she has been able to distinguish herself as a woman of many firsts.

• She is the first woman to become Director-General of the World Trade Organization’

• She is the First African to be appointed as DG of WTO

• She is the first Nigerian woman to be named as Finance Minister, from 2003-2006, and 2011-2015.

• She is the first Nigerian woman to occupy the position of both Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy (2011-2015)

• She is renowned as the first female and black candidate to contest for the Presidency of the World Bank Group in 2012.