Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, "is currently a Managing Director of the World Bank, a position which includes special oversight for the Bank's operations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South Asia and Africa. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has been at the forefront of the Bank's efforts to help countries hard hit by the food, fuel and financial crisis.

"From 2003 to 2006, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala served as Finance Minister of Nigeria and later Foreign Affairs Minister."

Was formerly "the Minister of Finance for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a job she assumed on July 18th 2003. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala was Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group. She is Nigeria's first female finance minister. So far in Nigeria, she has overhauled the budgeting and expenditure processes; halted spending of windfall gains from higher than expected oil prices; slashed the budget deficit and introduced unprecedented levels of transparency and disclosure in the national accounts. She has also prepared legislation to hold ministers and state governors of Nigeria accountable to spending plans and limits. Now she is targeting the bloated and wasteful public sector."


 * Director, ONE Campaign
 * Director, World Resources Institute
 * Director, Friends Africa
 * Expert, Africa Growth Initiative