Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala ( born June 13, 1954) is a Nigerian politician and finance minister in the cabinet of Goodluck Jonathan. Okonjo- Iweala was already July 2003 to June 2006 Finance and Economy Minister in Nigeria and from June to August 2006 Foreign Minister of their country.

Career

Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala was educated at Harvard University ( degree in 1977 magna cum laude ) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to her work as Minister Okonjo- Iweala was 21 years as a development economist at the World Bank. There she was also Vice President and Corporate Secretary.

In July 2003, she was appointed by Olusegun Obasanjo in the ministry of finance and economy minister. These activities, she held until June 2006. Then Okonjo- Iweala moved for two months in the office of Foreign Minister.

On October 4, 2007, the President of the World Bank Robert B. Zoellick announced that Okonjo- Iweala will be working from 1 December 2007 as Managing Director again for the World Bank.

In March 2012 it was announced that Okonjo- Iewala be a candidate for the succession of the outgoing World Bank President Robert Zoellick. However, they could not prevail against the favored U.S. health expert Jim Yong Kim ( the former Colombian Minister of Finance José Antonio Ocampo had withdrawn his candidacy shortly before the decision of the World Bank Executive Board ).

Personal

Okonjo- Iweala is married and has four children. One of their children is the author Uzodinma Iweala.

Awards

• 2004: " Hero of the Year" - Time Magazine
• 2005: "Finance Minister of the Year" - Euro Money Magazine
• 2006: Honorary doctorate from Brown University