Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Former Nigerian Finance and Foreign Minister, Joins Brookings


Washington, DC (January 10, 2007) — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, joined Brookings as a Distinguished Visiting Fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program, Strobe Talbott announced.

At Brookings, Okonjo-Iweala will focus on economic reform issues in Africa, corruption and governance in social sector financing, transparency and accountability, and global health financing issues.

Okonjo-Iweala served in the Nigerian government from 2003 to 2006, first as the Finance Minister and then as the Foreign Affairs Minister. She was the first woman to hold either position in Nigeria. Prior to her work for the Nigerian government, Okonjo-Iweala was a vice president of the World Bank. For her efforts to bring openness, transparency and accountability to government financing and operations, Okonjo-Iweala was selected as a TIME Magazine "Hero of the Year" in 2004, and received the Euromarket Forum Award for Vision and Courage in 2003. She was honored with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Brown University in 2006.

"Ngozi's outstanding achievements as finance minister on fiscal reforms and in Nigeria's debt negotiations will bring a unique insider perspective to bear in our work on African economic reform and poverty alleviation – one of the great challenges of our time," said Lael Brainard, vice president and director of Global Economy and Development at the Brookings Institution, and holder of the Bernard L. Schwartz Chair in International Economics.

Okonjo-Iweala's work at Brookings will focus on three areas within the Global Economy and Development program: the Wolfensohn Center for Development, led by Johannes Linn; the Global Health Financing Initiative, recently launched with a Gates Foundation grant; and the Transparency and Accountability Project. The health and transparency projects are led by Senior Fellow David de Ferranti.

Okonjo-Iweala earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard and her Ph.D. in regional economics and development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions. Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2006, Brookings analyzes current and emerging issues and produces new ideas that matter – for the nation and the world.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 14.01.2007 09:15

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 2 She is one of the worst diseases that has infected the continent of Africa in the recent past. Posted by Son of the Delta| 15.01.2007 04:23

Auspicious  Villager

# 3 =Son of the Delta;148828>She is one of the worst diseases that has infected the continent of Africa in the recent past. Hai! Another 'genius' has just proven that the freedom of speech sometimes comes with a deadly price.. Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 15.01.2007 04:54

Abraxas  Villager

# 4 Hi, Son of the Delta! Please help us shed some more light on the "desease" with which Mrs. (Dr.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala infected Nigeria, indeed, Africa. I beg you. I am really not sure that you are fully aware of the fact that yours is a good example of an unwarranted and unsolicited ad-hominem abuse on the person of a lady who, from all indications and commendations worldwide, did her human best to serve her country to the best of her ability, despite all odds, particularly, despite General Okikiolakan Matiyu Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo (The Great). Please, my good friend, Son of the Delta, kindly cut the crap! As you are fully aware, I formally announced a policy of undiluted zero tolerance for all manner of unprovoked ad-hominem attacks, ethnocentric slurs, inordinate sycophancy, geopolitical chauvism, ego-tripping, ego massaging, pro-establishment arsehole licking, official praise-singing, and similar other "No-Go-Areas", with effect from 00:01 hrs GMT on Monday, 1 January 2007, and I Intend to enforce it to the letter. This warning, which, for the records is the first, is also intended to be for the information of, and subsequent further necessary corrective actions by any other incorrigible xenophobe still breathing in this our very belloved Village of origin. Muchas gracias. Don Juan Carlos ABRAXAS (III) Posted by Abraxas| 15.01.2007 05:25

Dr. S Adetunji  Villager

# 5 =Son of the Delta;148828>She is one of the worst diseases that has infected the continent of Africa in the recent past. How? Why? When? And, where? Posted by Dr. S Adetunji| 15.01.2007 05:49

2plus2  Villager

# 6 You know, I just get surprised at our ability to constantly be verbally acidic and un-necessarily mean to another person, male/ female/ etc. :frown: What is the positive that she has brought to our nation. How many Nigerians have joined Brookings? and other such institutions. Is it not good that we have a NIGERIAN there, male or female; or should we be happy that there are so few Nigerians in those kinds of places. There is nothing more joyful than walking into the UN or anywhere else and listening or discovering that a Nigerian is there and about to do us proud. I am very positive about US as a people. There are bad Nigerians just as there are in order places. Forgodsake, there are 140 million (not about to argue about this figure either). Look at the Irish, look at the Zambians, South Africans, I do not hear these people constantly beating up on any and everyone. We really do need to be POSITIVE about our contributions to the world. :D I believe that post was just a ruse to get us all worked up. Posted by 2plus2| 15.01.2007 06:26

Robot  Villager

# 7 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 14.01.2007 09:15

Robot  Villager

# 8 Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 14.01.2007 09:15

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 9 She is one of the worst diseases that has infected the continent of Africa in the recent past. Posted by Son of the Delta| 15.01.2007 04:23

Auspicious  Villager

# 10 =Son of the Delta;148828>She is one of the worst diseases that has infected the continent of Africa in the recent past. Hai! Another 'genius' has just proven that the freedom of speech sometimes comes with a deadly price.. Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 15.01.2007 04:54

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