Forbes has named former minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Africa Person of the Year 2020.
“The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica,” Forbes tweeted on Tuesday.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala responded, saying she was excited to receive the award.
“Thrilled to be named Forbes Africa-CNBC ‘2020 African of the Year’ following in the footsteps of my great brothers Paul Kagame and Akin Adesina,” she wrote.
Okonjo-Iweala, who has been the chair of Board of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation since January 2016, dedicated the award to all Africans.
The 66-year-old is bidding to be the first woman to head the World Trade Organisation. She faces competition from South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.
Meanwhile, Nigerians who have bagged the Forbes award in the past include president of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina; former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Lamido Sanusi; president of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote among others.
