Nigeria
Okonjo-Iweala Named Forbes Africa Person Of The Year 2020
Forbes Africa announced this on Tuesday via a post on its official handle @forbesafrica.
“The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica,”
Reacting to this development, Okonjo-Iweala, said she is thrilled by the prestigious award and also to be following the footsteps of her brothers Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Nigeria’s AkinAdesina.
She tweeted, “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.”
The 66 year old also dedicated the award to fellow Africans facing the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This award is for fellow Africans suffering the health & economic impact of Covid19. The energy and resilience of Africans inspire me!” she added.
Paul Kagame of Rwanda won the same prize in 2018.
Other eminent Nigerians who have bagged the award in the past include:
President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), AkinwumiAdesina in 2013 and 2019; Ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Muhammad Sanusi II in 2011; President of the DangoteGroup, Aliko Dangote in 2014. Okonjo-Iweala is also the first Nigerian woman to be honoured with the prize.
