About 17 years ago, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala challenged Nigeria’s patriarchy by becoming the longest-serving finance minister, the first foreign minister, and most importantly, the first woman to ever hold those positions. Today, she is on the brink of yet another first, as a finalist to the top post as the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a position which will make Okonjo-Iweala the first African and once again the first woman to lead the prestigious trade body. Okonjo-Iweala has the largest support – 164 members – from all levels of development and geographies following a grueling five-month competitive vetting process that began with eight candidates. The final decision is still awaited and could come anytime. But hurdles are nothing new for Okonjo-Iweala. As Nigeria’s finance minister, serving two terms under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan, Okonjo-Iwea
SOURCE: FORBES AFRICA
More Stories
Las Vegas Resident Enjoys a Three-week Adventure through Egypt
Traveling along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast
Key Appointment in Promoting Conservation as an African Growth Sector
A Travel Destination to Appeal to Everyone: Lake Malawi
Off-season Adventuring to Stretch the Safari Season
“African Proverbs for All Ages” by Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Nelda LaTeef
How a Wildly Popular Fashion Trend That Dominated Stone Age African Civilizations Suggests a 50,000-Year-Old Social Network
Wizkid, ElGrandeToto, Zuchu…Who Are the African Stars Exploding on YouTube?
Madelyn Bonilla: The AfroLatina Example Her Younger Self Needed
Transformative Architecture
Holding Thumbs for Kenya’s Miracle Birth
New Infrastructure Project Puts Government and Residents at Loggerheads