Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ranked most powerful woman in Africa

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named the most powerful woman in Africa and the 87th in the world by Forbes.

The Financial Magazine made the disclosure in its 20th annual ranking released on Tuesday.

The ranking showcased various influential figures, including CEOs, entertainers, politicians, philanthropists, and policymakers.

While Ms Okonjo-Iweala is positioned at 87th in the Most Powerful Women in the World list, Mpumi Madisa, a South African businesswoman, is at 88th.

Tanzanian President Samia Hassan is ranked at the 93rd spot, and Nigerian media mogul and philanthropist, Mo Abudu at 98th.

Meanwhile, Forbes ranked Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, as the most powerful woman in the world for 2023.

Christine Lagarde got the second position as the European Central Bank President.

Following closely is U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris in third place, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni securing the fourth spot.

In the 2022 ranking, Okonjo-Iweala was at number 91 in Forbes’s World’s 100 Most Powerful Women due to her role in providing financial assistance and promoting global trade.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala is an economist and international development professional with more than 30 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Also Read: Igbos are divided people; South-East no longer has solidarity — Okonjo-Iweala

In March 2021, she became the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.

She served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister from 2003-2006 and 2011-2015 and also briefly acted as foreign minister in 2006.