Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Biography: Net Worth, Husband, Age, Previous Positions, Children, Salary, Education, Family, Achievements

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (born June 13, 1954) is a prominent Nigerian-American economist. She assumed the role of Director General at the World Trade Organization in March 2021, marking her as the first African American woman to hold this prestigious position.

She is not only the first woman but also the first African to lead the World Trade Organization as Director General.

Before this role, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala served as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs and worked with the World Bank. Her expertise in economic development, finance and international trade has earned her many awards and honors.

Director General of the World Trade Organization

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photos
Wiki Info & About Data
First and last name: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Stage name: Okonjo-Iweala
Born: June 13, 1954 (69 years old)
Place of birth: Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta, Nigeria
State of origin: Delta State
Nationality: Nigerian
Education: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Height: 1.56m
Parents: Chukwuka Okonjo, Kamene Okonjo
Siblings: do not apply
Couple: Ikemba Iweala
Boyfriend • Partner: do not apply
Children: Onyinye Iweala, Uzodinma Iweala, Okechukwu Iweala, Uchechi Iweala
Job: Economist • Businesswoman
Net value: 550 million USD

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, born on June 13, 1954, in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Nigeria, comes from a family of academics. Her father, Chukwuka Okonjo, a renowned economist, and her mother, Kamene Okonjo, a diligent researcher, provided the intellectual foundation for her growing up.

Trained at reputable institutions, incl queen school in Enugu, St. Anne’s School in Ibadan and International School in Ibadan, her thirst for knowledge led her to Harvard Universitywhere she earned her bachelor’s degree in economics.

Continuing her academic adventure, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pursued a Ph.D. on economics and regional development at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Career

After studying in the United States, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala returned to Nigeria and began a career as an economist at the World Bank. Quickly rising through the ranks, she eventually assumed the role of CEO, overseeing operations in Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia. Her tenure saw tireless efforts to promote economic development and reduce poverty in some of the world’s most disadvantaged regions.

During her impressive 25 years at the World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s role has expanded exponentially. She rose to the prestigious position of Executive Director of Operations, shouldering responsibility for the World Bank’s $81 billion portfolio of operations across Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia. Her contributions were pivotal in the 2008–2009 food crisis and subsequent financial turmoil. In 2010, she presided over the IDA replenishment, securing a significant $49.3 billion in grants and low-interest credit for the world’s poorest countries.

Moving into the Nigerian government, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala served twice as Minister of Finance (2003–2006 and 2011–2015), briefly as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006, and as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs . She is the first woman to hold these key positions. Her leadership ushered in groundbreaking economic reforms, including negotiations to erase a staggering $30 billion of Nigeria’s debt, a feat that included canceling $18 billion.

She introduced oil-based financial rules, “Excess raw account,” and facilitated Nigeria’s first sovereign credit rating. Her push for transparency led to the publication of revenue sharing rates among federal, state, and local governments, improving accountability in governance.

Returning to the World Bank in 2007, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala continued her influential work. In her second term as Finance Minister, she championed reforms to eliminate ghost workers, save $1.25 billion and strengthen the housing sector by creating the Nigerian mortgage refinancing consortium. She revised Nigeria’s GDP, making it the largest economy in Africa after a 24-year hiatus.

In addition to economic reforms, she also empowered women and youth through initiatives such as Developing Girls and Women in Nigeria Program and Young enterprise with innovation program. Her efforts created personal threats and challenges, but she remained steadfast.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s influence extends globally, with roles on the Growth and Development Committee, the IMF’s International Monetary and Financial Committee and the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Agenda Development after 2015. She even ran for president of the World Bank in 2012.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala continues her remarkable journey of post-government service, participating in key initiatives such as the International Commission on Financing Global Educational Opportunity, co-chairing the COVAX Facility and chairs the Gavi Board, the Vaccine Alliance.

In 2020, she made history as the first African and first woman to become Director General of the World Trade Organization.

Her tireless commitment to global health continues with roles on the G20 High-Level Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness, the COVAX Facility, and the Multilateral Leadership Task Force on COVID Vaccines -19.

In January 2022, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala joined the Group of Thirty (G30), an esteemed consortium of global policymakers, further cementing her position as a prominent voice in the international financial sector.

Awards & Nominations

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s exceptional contributions have won him numerous awards and honors. She entered the list of the 50 greatest leaders in the world according to Fortune in 2015 and was continuously ranked in the Top 100 most powerful women in the world by Forbes from 2011 to 2015. Her illustrious journey also includes receiving the 2014 David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award and the 2015 Global Equity Award.

Her indelible mark on economic development and poverty reduction extends far beyond her native Nigeria. She remains a highly regarded figure in the global economic community, a testament to her lasting influence and steadfast commitment to positive change.

Personal life

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is happily married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala and their marriage has been blessed with four children. Her children, Dr. Onyinye Iweala, Uzodinma Iweala (MD), Okechukwu Iweala and Uchechi Iweala (MD, MBA), have all proudly achieved academic success at Harvard, a testament to their intellectual prowess. .

In a personal pursuit, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s husband, Dr. Ikemba Iweala, has forged a distinguished path as a Neurosurgeon, making significant contributions to the field of medicine.

However, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s story has been plagued by adversity. Tragedy struck when two of her siblings became victims of kidnappers in Nigeria, leading to a harrowing ordeal involving ransom demands. Sadly, one met a tragic end, and the other was eventually released.

Social Media

  • Twitter handle: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala)
  • Facebook: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
  • LinkedIn: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
  • Email: interact with [email protected]

Net value

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s cumulative net worth is estimated to hover around an impressive $550 million.

Wage

As for his remuneration, as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Standard Chartered Plc, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received a total of GBX 139,000. It is worth noting that among the top brass at Standard Chartered Plc, 12 executives enjoy higher salaries, with William Winters leading with a significant amount of $5,932,000.

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