Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), reappointed for a second term, has also been named one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 2024, marking her eighth appearance on the list.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Okonjo-Iweala celebrated the recognition alongside four other African women: “Honoured to be on the list of the 2024 Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, for the 8th time! This is an honor I do not take for granted. I wish to congratulate all my fellow women Honorees, in particular the 4 other African Women on the list – H.E President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania, H.E Prime Minister @SuminwaJudith of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ms Mpumi Madisa – CEO of Bidvest, and our very own @MoAbudu. Let’s hope for even more African Women next time!”
Her tenure as WTO Director-General comes during a period of complex global trade disruptions, where she has been instrumental in pushing for equitable reforms and addressing the needs of developing nations.
In response to her reappointment, Okonjo-Iweala reaffirmed her commitment to the WTO’s mission: “Today, it is with humility and a great sense of honour that I thank each and every one of the 166 WTO members for the consensus they achieved in supporting my reappointment! Thank you for the wonderful words of recognition and support. I don’t take this lightly. I also want to thank my colleagues in the Secretariat Staff for their dedication and hard work.
“This is an enormous responsibility and I will redouble my efforts to work with each and every member to try and deliver the results this organization needs, including the necessary reforms to make it fit for 21st century challenges. We’ve done it before, we can do it again! I am also grateful to my family, my country, to the Africa Region, and to all my friends and colleagues from all over the world who have reached out with hundreds of congratulatory messages. Thank you for the recognition!”
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A globally respected economist and finance expert, Okonjo-Iweala’s career spans decades. Educated at Harvard University and earning her doctorate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), she became a household name during her two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, where her reforms stabilized the economy and secured $18 billion in debt relief. Her bold leadership earned her international acclaim, including the moniker ‘the Iron Lady of Finance’.
She has held the position as WTO Director-General since 2021, making history as the first African and first woman leader to do so.
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