Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
She is the 7th Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the first-ever woman and first African to hold the position. She is a global finance expert, an economist, and an international development expert with over 30 years of impactful work across four countries – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. She is a renowned negotiator who has brokered numerous agreements with win-win outcomes, according to the WTO. She is an effective consensus builder and trustworthy broker, enjoying the confidence and respect of governments and other stakeholders. Okonjo-Iweala served twice as Finance Minister in Nigeria and Foreign Affairs Minister (briefly), making her the first woman to hold both positions. She is a former World Bank Executive and Economic Adviser to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. She spearheaded the negotiation between the Nigerian Government and the Paris Club of Creditors that resulted in the cancellation of the $30 billion debt owed by Nigeria.
