By Leshi Adebayo
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has ranked her honours after she was named as one of the 25 most influential women of 2021 by Financial Times.
The WTO boss was ranked first on the list published on December 2, although the London-based magazine confirmed that it was unranked.
Describing Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde said, she “is as fierce and talented a competitor as she is a caring friend, and it came as no surprise to me when she was appointed to the helm of the WTO in March this year.”
“I have known Ngozi since 2005 and have seen her work tirelessly as a seasoned negotiator and crisis manager.
“Her 25 years at the World Bank demonstrated her resolve, including her handling of the food and financial crisis of 2008-09 and her determination to recover stolen assets.
“She has shattered glass ceilings with her complete competence, absolute integrity and good humour, becoming the first female finance minister and foreign minister in Nigeria, where she implemented tough reforms to enhance the transparency of the country’s public finances, and is the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. Ngozi is a force to be reckoned with,” she added.
According to Financial Times, the list is in commemoration of Women of the Year — an annual celebration of women with great achievements and influence.
The list and the entries were compiled and written by FT journalists, former women of the year, readers and some of the most influential women in the world.
Others named in the list are Lina Khan, Mary Barra, Gita Gopinath, Luiza Trajano, Nancy Pelosi, Mariam Al-mahdi, Kate Bingham, Catie Wood, Rosalind Brewer, and Tsai Ing-wen.
Also listed are Francis Haugen, Naomi Osaka, Elisa Loncón Antileo, Agnes Chow, Liz Cheney, Vanessa Nakate, Sotooda Forotan, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Chloe Zhao, Sally Rooney, Shonda Rhimes, Scarlett Johansson, Paula Rego and Gabriela Hearst.
