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“Do every job you’re in like you’re going to do it for the rest of your life, and demonstrate that ownership of it.”
—Mary Barra, first female CEO, General Motors
By Enyeribe Ejiogu
At any gathering of global leaders, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stands out.
Despite being a bit below average height, the intellectual stature and sterling achievements of Okonjo-Iweala make her tower above many of the men.
When she exchanges pleasantries with the men at gatherings, there is an unmistakable deference and high regard accorded to her, primarily on account of her person and not so much because of the office she occupies as Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO or the past offices she held as managing director of the World Bank.
She has deployed a mix of wisdom, knowledge, tact, diplomacy and emotional intelligence to walk a tightrope, to ensure that the WTO is never accused of being pro-any country.
She honed her diplomatic skills in the course of the 25 years she spent at the World Bank, during which she held various senior positions of increasing responsibilities.
Intelligent and resilient, Okonjo-Iweala is a highly educated economist with a strong background in development and international trade, showcasing her intellectual prowess and ability to navigate complex global issues.
A trailblazing female achiever of international renown, she is the first African woman to lead the World Trade Organization. She has broken down barriers and paved the way for others to follow in her footsteps.
Dedicated and committed, her tireless efforts to promote economic reforms, pursue poverty reduction, and sustainable development abundantly demonstrate her unwavering commitment to creating positive change.
Through her leadership and advocacy, she has inspired countless individuals, particularly women and young Africans, to pursue careers in economics, international relations, and leadership.
As Director-General of the WTO, she has worked to foster dialogue among member nations, addressing pressing issues like vaccine access and climate change within the realm of trade. Right from her appointment in 2021, after former President Joe Biden took office and endorsed her candidacy for the headship of WTO, her efforts in this regard showed commendably in the way she smoothened rough edges, working behind the scene, to quicken the rebuilding of global supply chains disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic that practically shutdown economies. It is also noteworthy that when first term ended and she qualified for a second term, and the Democrats had lost the White House, Biden quickly endorsed her again for second term, not wanting to take the chance of leaving the utmost important decision to the capricious whim of his successor.
Okonjo-Iweala is very passionate about development and her work reflects a deep commitment to improving the lives of people in developing nations, particularly in Africa, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Okonjo-Iweala is a champion of women inclusivity. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting women’s empowerment and inclusion in various spheres.
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She has been a vocal advocate for women’s economic empowerment, education, and healthcare. She has emphasized the importance of investing in women and girls to achieve sustainable development.
Okonjo-Iweala has mentored and supported numerous women, particularly in Africa, to pursue careers in economics, international trade, and leadership.
Through her work at the WTO and other organizations, Okonjo-Iweala has influenced policies and initiatives that promote women’s economic participation and trade opportunities.
Her achievements and leadership style have inspired countless women and girls, particularly in Africa, to pursue their goals and ambitions.
Through practical initiatives and statements she continues to demonstrate her commitment to women inclusivity, thereby highlighting the importance of women’s economic participation in achieving sustainable development and reducing poverty.
She has emphasized the need for education and skills development programmes that target women and girls, particularly in STEM fields.
Okonjo-Iweala has acknowledged the barriers that women face in trade and business, including limited access to finance, markets, and technology. She has advocated for policies and initiatives that address these challenges.
In this regard, and to further demonstrate her commitment to promoting women inclusivity and empowerment, she got the WTO to collaborate with the International Trade Centre (ITC) to create the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund, with an initial funding basket of $50 million, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses through international trade and digitalization. Today, entrepreneurs like Mrs Ozioma Onwordi, an ex-banker who founded Eden Whole Foods Limited can access the finance provided under WEIDE through her bank. Eden Whole Foods produces, processes, packages and brands a wide range of Nigerian foodstuff for sales within Nigeria and export to Nigerians in the Diaspora, effectively utilising the digital tools of e-commerce, both within and outside Nigeria.
The key objectives of the Fund are: to empower women entrepreneurs by providing financial support, technical assistance, and mentorship; increase digital presence by helping women entrepreneurs expand their businesses globally through digital trade; promote inclusive growth, which will foster sustainable trade growth and economic development by supporting women in business.
WEIDE essentially provides qualified female entrepreneurs with vital and beneficial grants under different categories. These include: discovery grant, whereby the female-led business receives $5,000 at the early stage, to enable the business explore digital trade opportunities; booster grant of up to $30,000 for more advanced enterprises ready to expand their global digital footprint. Ozioma Onwordi’s Eden Whole Foods falls under this category.
To demonstrate the key objective of achieving inclusivity, eligibility to access the WEIDE Fund, WTO/ITC is restricted to women-led businesses registered and operating in Nigeria, Mongolia, and the Dominican Republic, for the present time. Eligibility may be extended later. Such businesses must be export-ready or actively exploring digital trade opportunities. Further, the enterprise must demonstrate potential for business growth and employment generation.
Expectedly, announcement of the initiative elicited an outpouring of commendations and accolades for Okonjo-Iweala. Incidentally, the application window for the initiative closed on May 18, 2025.
While praising Okonjo-Iweala for creation of the WEIDE Fund, Joseph Ibezim, a marketing strategist, perception management consultant and Magnum Africa country manager, described her as “Nigeria’s and Africa’s precious daughter who is unapologetically committed to her roots as well as to the growth and empowerment of women in Nigeria, Africa and the whole world. “Okonjo-Iweala is a quiet fighter for the betterment of the lot of women and children. She recognizes that the welfare, economic and financial progress of women always translates to the welfare of men and the whole nation.
“Nigerian female prayer warriors should daily pray for the good health and continued success of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.”
The success of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the result of some notable personal traits which include a strong family background. She was born into a royal family in Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State, Nigeria. Her father was a professor of economics and a traditional ruler. She’s married to Dr. Ikemba Iweala, a neurosurgeon, and they have four children together, including author Uzodinma Iweala.
At the World Bank, she had a 25-year career as a development economist, rising to become Managing Director for Operations from 2007 to 2011. Okonjo-Iweala was the first Nigerian woman to serve two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria, first under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2003 to 2006; and secondly, under President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015.
Under Obasanjo, from August 2006, she served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2005, Euromoney named her Global Finance Minister.
