Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

First woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization, driving global trade equity and pandemic response initiatives

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian economist and diplomat who became the first woman and first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2021. Her career has been marked by groundbreaking achievements in global economic policy and public health. As a former Finance Minister of Nigeria and Managing Director at the World Bank, she pioneered initiatives to reduce poverty, combat corruption, and enhance infrastructure development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spearheaded the WTO's response, advocating for equitable vaccine distribution and debt relief for developing nations. Okonjo-Iweala also co-founded the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, which has vaccinated over 882 million children worldwide since 2000. Her leadership in negotiations for the TRIPS waiver to boost global vaccine production highlights her commitment to addressing systemic inequities in global health. Beyond her governmental roles, she chairs the Board of Directors at Affirmative Action, an organization promoting women's economic empowerment in Africa.