Former Nigerian Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named African of the Year by Forbes Africa.
The respected business magazine announced the honour in a Tuesday tweet.
The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…
Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica pic.twitter.com/hlcCDHEMx2
— Forbes Africa (@forbesafrica) December 1, 2020
Okonjo-Iweala, who is in pole position to land the job of DG of World Trade Organisation (WTO), joins a list of eminent Africans to receive the African of the Year award. She is also the female to be named.
Rwandan President, Paul Kagame and President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina (twice) previously received the award.
Other previous winners to come from Nigeria are: former CBN Governor and ex-Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II (2011) and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Reacting, the Board Chair of GAVI, the global vaccine alliance, said she was “thrilled” to be so honoured.
Quoting Forbes Africa’s tweet announcing the award, she wrote: “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 inspires me!”
The 2019 awardee, Dr Adesina congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her award.
He wrote, “Congratulations my dear Sister @NOIweala on your award of African of the Year by @forbesafrica.
“You make us so proud!”
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