Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Reacts As Forbes Names Her ‘Africa Person Of The Year 2020’

Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2020.

Forbes Africa announced this on Tuesday via a post on its official Twitter handle which reads:

“The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica.”

Reacting to the development, Okonjo-Iweala said she is thrilled to be honoured and to be following the footsteps of her African brothers, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Nigeria’s Femi Adesina.

“Thrilled to be named @forbesafrica-CNBC 2020 African of the Year following in the footsteps of my great Brothers @PaulKagame and @akin_adesina,” the 66-year-old said.

The former minsiter also dedicated the award to fellow Africans facing the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This award is for fellow Africans suffering the health and economic impact of #Covid19. The energy and resilience of Africans inspire me!” 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! https://t.co/CKDEyls7T9

— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) December 1, 2020

In 2019, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), won the award for his outstanding work at the bank and a sterling career in agriculture and finance. Paul Kagame of Rwanda won the same prize in 2018.

The award is coming weeks after Okonjo-Iweala was selected as the consensus candidate set to become the first African and first woman to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in its 25-year history.