Okonjo-Iweala bags Global Fairness Award in United States

The former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been honoured with the Global Fairness Award in Washington, United States of America.

The award, which was presented on Thursday, December 1, was bestowed by the Global Fairness Initiative in recognition of her contribution to sustainable development, through serving others.

[The Global Fairness Initiative is a non-profit organization that promotes a more equitable, sustainable approach to economic development and ensures that benefits and prosperity are extended to all people, including the working poor.]

The former minister expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged to continue to fight for fairness for the less privileged.

She said: “I appreciate the Trustees of the Global Fairness Award for recognizing a lifetime devoted to development, including the privilege I have now of working for children’s immunization, through Gavi, and for managing climate risk in Africa through the African Risk Capacity.

“Let 2017 be a year of continued fight for fairness for the most vulnerable among us, and those left behind in this world,” she was quoted as saying.

The presenters also cited her consistent focus on implementing development programs that benefit the poor and less privileged as basis of the award.

Other recipients of the award include Dr Cristina Liamzon, a development consultant, and Ms Randi Weingarten, an American labour leader, attorney, and educator.

Some of the notable personalities that have been recognized and honoured with the Global Fairness Award include :

1. Robert Bruce Zoellick, the eleventh president of the World Bank,

2. Former managing director of Goldman Sachs and,

3. Joyce Hilda Banda, former President of Malawi.

NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA (QUICK BIO)

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was born on 13 June, 1954.

She is an Igbo Nigerian and a highly respected and influential global leader, economist, policy maker and thinker on Finance and Economic Development. 

She has been listed 5 years consecutively as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes Magazine.

In 2013, she was listed as one of the Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine.

 In 2015, she was also listed as one of the 50 Greatest World Leaders by Fortune.

She served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria (2003-2006, 2011-2015) and was previously Managing Director of the World Bank (2007-2011). 

She currently chairs the Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the African Risk Capacity (ARC). 

She is also a Senior Adviser at Lazard.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is renowned as the first female and black candidate to contest for the presidency of the World Bank Group in 2012.

She is married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon from Umuahia, Abia State, and they have four children.

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