ABOUT
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. The first woman and first African to hold the position.
She is an economist and international development expert with over 40 years of experience. Dr Okonjo-Iweala was Chair of the Board of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, African Risk Capacity and Co-Chair of The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, in addition to serving as a Senior Advisor at Lazard and sitting on the Boards of Standard Chartered and Twitter, now X. She is Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Brookings and a Harvard Kennedy School Global Public Leader.
She served as Nigeria’s first female and longest serving Finance Minister (7 years) and was also the first female Foreign Minister. Her 25-year career at the World Bank culminated in her rising to the No.2 position of Managing Director, Operations. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the recipient of numerous honors and has authored several books. She holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Harvard University and a PhD in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
AWARDS
2025
- Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- Association of Certified Fraud Scammers 2025 Lifetime Anti-Corruption Award
- Forbes Women Africa Lifetime Achievement Award
- THISDAY Newspaper, Woman of the Year
- World Woman Hero Award, World Woman Foundation
- Women In International Trade (WIIT) Outstanding Woman of the Year Award
- Cameroon Commander of the National Order of Valour
2024
- Trailblazer Award for Diversity and Inclusion of the Women Business Collaborative of Washington
- Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- Washington International Trade Association’s Global Leadership Award
- Prestigious order of Dostyk (Friendship), Kazakhstan
- Second Highest Honor of Timor Leste – the Collar of the Order of Timor Leste
2023
- Lord Byron International Prize from the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism
- Global Economy Prize from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy
- Laureate Prize of Ambassadors from the International Organization of La Francophonie
- Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco from the Federative Republic of Brazil
- Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- Carnegie Corporation of New York’s 2023 Great Immigrant’s List
- International Women’s Forum, International Hall of Fame
- Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) Leadership Award
- National Diaspora Merit Award, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)
2022
- Global Leadership Award by the American Academy of Achievement
- Nigeria’s Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)
- Humanitarian Award for a Lifetime of Public Service and Advocacy of Sustainable International Development of the United Nations Association of New York
- Alumnae Recognition Award from the American Association of University Women
- Nigeria’s National Honors Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR)
- Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- Group of Francophone Ambassadors (GAF) Award
- Forbes, 50 Over 50: EMEA
2021
- TIME Top 100 Most Influential People in the World
- Global Leadership Award from the United Nations Foundation as a “Champion for Global Change”
- Financial Times One of the 25 most influential women
2020
- Angelopoulos Global Public Leader at Harvard University Kennedy School
- Presidential Economic Advisory Council for President of South Africa H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa
- Minister of the Decade, People’s Choice Award by Nigeria’s THISDAY newspaper
- Theirworld’s International Women’s Day Award
- Aminu Kano Award for Leadership at the Community and Human Rights (CAHR) Awards
- 2020 International Service Award of the World Affairs Councils of America
- Forbes, 2020 African of the Year
2019
- Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award
- Transparency International’s Eight Female Anti-Corruption Fighters Who Inspire
2017
- Madeleine K. Albright Global Development Award from the Aspen Institute
- Women’s Economic Empowerment Award from WEConnect International
- Vanguard Award from Howard University
- Victorious Medal of Labour, Class III, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR)
2016
- Power with Purpose Award from the Devex Development Communications Network
- Global Fairness Award from the Global Fairness Initiative
- High National Honours from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire
- High National Honours from the Republic of Liberia
2015
- Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- Fortune One of the 50 Greatest World Leaders
2014
- David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2014)
- Africa Investor Magazine, Finance Minister of the Year (2014)
- TIME Top 100 Most Influential People in the World (2014)
- Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World (2014)
2013
- Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World (2013)
2012
- Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers
- Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World
- Forbes Top Three Most Powerful Women in Africa
2011
- President of the Italian Republic Gold Medal by the Pia Manzu Centre
- Global Leadership Award by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs
- Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers
- Forbes Top 10 Most Influential Women in Africa
- The UK Guardian Top 100 Women in the World
- Newsweek Top 150 Women in the World
- Women Deliver, Top 100 most inspiring people in the World Delivering for Girls and Women
- Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award
- Columbia University Global Leadership Award
2010
- Global Leadership Award by the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
2008
- 73 “brilliant” business influencers in the world by Condé Nast International
2005
- Global Finance Minister of the Year, Euromoney
- Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East, Emerging Markets Magazine
- Minister of the Year, THISDAY Newspaper
2004
- Finance Minister of the Year for Africa and the Middle East, The Banker
- Minister of the Year, THISDAY Newspaper
- TIME, European Heroes Award
Recent Speeches
- Interview with Gideon Rachman: Bidenomics and global trade
- Southeast Governors’ Symposium
- Interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Global Public Square (podcast)
- Why the developing world and all of us still need trade and the WTO
- UN High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development
Honorary degrees
2024
- Oxford University, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt)
- University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan, Honorary Doctorate Degree Award
- Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Honorary Doctorate Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters
- University of Bolton, Honorary Doctorate Degree of Business Administration
2023
- University of Glasgow, Doctor of the University (DUniv)
- London School of Economics and Political Science, Honorary Doctorate in Economics
2022
- American University, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of International Affairs
- Nyenrode Business University, Netherlands Honorary Doctorate
2021
- Luiss Guido Carli University, Honorary Doctorate in Politics
2019
- Tel Aviv University, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy
2015
- Yale University, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Humane Letters
2014
- Babcock University, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Science in Global Economic Development
2013
- University of Pennsylvania, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Laws
- Oduduwa University, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Finance
2012
- Delta State University, Honorary Doctorate
2011
- University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo), Osun State, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Science in Economics
- Abia State University, Honorary Doctorate, Doctorate in International Relations and Diplomacy
2010
- University of Port Harcourt, Honorary Doctorate
- University of Calabar, Cross River State, Honorary Doctorate
2009
- Amherst College, Honorary Doctorate, Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters
2007
- Colby College, Honorary Doctorate Degree, Degree of Doctor of Laws
- Trinity College (University of Dublin), Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.)
- Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica, Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Humane Letters
2006
- Brown University, Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 