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.

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.