Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Wins The 2020 International Service Award of the World Affairs Councils of America
Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has won the 2020 International Service Award of the World Affairs Councils of America. The World Affairs Council of America (WACAmerica) is a network of 93 autonomous and nonpartisan councils across 40 states, dedicated to engaging the public and leading global voices to better understand the world, America’s international role, and the policy choices that impact the people’s daily lives and future.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala graduated with an A.B. magna cum laude in Economics from Harvard University and holds a Ph.D. in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has received more than ten honorary degrees, including from Yale University, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Trinity College, Dublin.
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In a tweet confirming the award, WACAmerica wrote:
“We had the most wonderful conversation with you, @NOIweala, at our #WACA2020 Conference: #FrontiersinDiplomacy. It was our true honor & delight to present you w/ WACA’s International Service Award. We hope to work w/ you much more in the future! Thank you! ”
In response, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala tweeted:
A development economist and former Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, most recently between 2011 and 2015 – a role that encompassed the expanded portfolio of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy. In 2006, she served as Foreign Affairs Minister. Also, she had held several key positions at the World Bank, including as Managing Director, and serves on the boards of Twitter and Standard Chartered Bank PLC.
In April 2020, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed an African Union Special Envoy to mobilize international financial support for the fight against COVID-19, and a WHO Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is currently a finalist candidate in the race for the election of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general.