20 interesting facts you may not know about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

• Dr Okonjo-Iweala is an iconic woman of many firsts
• She clocked 70 on June 13 and has been celebrated by many people across the country
• Here are 20 things you probably didn’t know about her

As the global development expert celebrates her 70th birthday today, TheRadar brings you 20 things you didn’t know about the icon. 

1. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is currently serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). 
2. She is the first woman and first African to hold this position.
3. She served as the Minister of Finance in Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2011 to 2015. 
4. She is the first female Finance Minister Nigeria has ever had. 
5. Dr Okonjo Iweala worked at the World Bank for 25 years and rose to the position of Managing Director, a position considered to be the second rank in the management of the World Bank.
6. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1977 and a PhD in regional economics and development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981.
7. She was named Forbes African of the Year in 2020, ranked as one of 50 Greatest World Leaders by Fortune in 2015. 
8. For four years, Forbes named her one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World. 
9. TIME also recognised her as one of the 100 most influential people of 2021.
10. She is married to a Nigerian neurosurgeon, Dr Ikemba Iweala.
11. During her tenure as the Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, she led several projects to assist poor countries from 2007 to 2008 during the global financial crisis and from 2003 to 2006, 2011 to 2015. 
12. She also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria from June to August 2006. She was also the first female to serve in that position.
13. She contested for the position of president of the World Bank but was unsuccessful. 
14. She was the Chairperson of the Board of Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, African Risk Capacity and Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. 
15. Dr Okonjo Iweala has received many awards and has written many books like Women and Leadership, Fighting Corruption is Dangerous, Reforming the Unreformable, Chinua Achebe, Teacher of Light, etc. 
16. She had her secondary education at St Anne’s School in Ibadan.
17. She hails from Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State. 
18. Dr Okonjo Iweala, her husband, Dr Ikemba Iweala and four children were named on the list of Exemplars: 100 Most Outstanding Nigerians in the Diaspora.
19. She is a fashionista and proudly promotes her African roots as she’s always exquisitely dressed in her fashionable ankara styles, her elegant statement headgear and matching beads.  
20. She has always dressed in Ankara outfits since her university days and promotes Nigerian fashion.