Okonjo-Iweala named in prestigious 'Power with Purpose' list

– Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former minister of finance, was listed among the most powerful and influential women in the world

– Her name was included in the ‘2016 Power With Purpose List’

– The prestigious award recognizes outstanding women who have helped in engineering recognizable change in their community and the world

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former minister of finance, has been recognized in the international list of powerful women in the world.




Okonjo-Iweala was named along with other 4 influential women in the 2016 Power With Purpose Roll List.

This prestigious award recognizes outstanding and powerful women with leadership qualities who have helped in engineering recognizable change in their community and the world.

Okonjo-Iweala was described as “nothing if not a fighter”.

“There is a will to fight,” Ngozi has said about Africans’ impatience with government, corruption and waste. And this economist is nothing if not a fighter. She rolled up her sleeves in Nigeria’s notoriously rough-and-tumble politics, aggressively tackling cronyism, increasing transparency and fostering investment as Nigeria’s finance minister.

“Before overseeing Africa’s largest economy, she managed an $81B operational portfolio for the World Bank. Now Ngozi looks to a new fight: providing life-saving vaccines for the over 19 million children still in need each year, as chair-elect of the Board of GAVI, the vaccine alliance.”

‘Power with Purpose 2016′ honorees

Other women who were included in to the list are: Christiana Figueres (a Costa Rican diplomat), Eleni Gabre-Madhin (an Ethiopian economist and a former chief executive officer of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange), Kristalina Georgieva (a Bulgarian economist), Fayeeza Naqvi (co-founder and chairman of the Aman Foundation, a private philanthropic trust).

Nigerians congratulated Okonjo-Iweala, praising her for hard work and encouragement to African women.

“Big mum, please, I am appealing on behalf of Nigeria that you should come back and rescue our nation’s economy. We are at penury, our president is confused because of old age and lack of certificate,” Omeje Chinedu begged.

“I am so excited and proud of you because of the records you are setting in the world,” George Togbah noted.

“Madam, very proud of you, you are PRECIOUS GIFT to the nation called Nigeria,” Madicson David wrote.

“Congratulations Ma! You are really an epitome of hard work and encouragement to African women! More Grace!” Frank Ayo Chris wished.

“To whom are you doing good, to the poor or to the rich? Why is it that you have not been honoured by poor Nigerians? Those honour have no value, you earn them because you helped foreigners to dupe our country,” Okpole Brown noted.

“Great women who easily do what men hardly do. #BlessedOkonjoIweala ,” Kenechukwu I. Owo wrote.