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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Nigerian economist who has served as Director-General of the World Trade Organization since 1 March 2021, and who was previously Nigeria's Finance Minister and a World Bank Managing Director.

CurrentLatest source dated 2026-03-26Last reviewed 2026-10-26

What roles did Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala hold, and when?

Roles in date order

  1. 2003
    Development economist (various positions), World Bank Date uncertain

    Roughly 25-year World Bank career in various positions before becoming Nigeria's Finance Minister in 2003; start year not given in the sources read.[1, 2]

  2. African Union Special Envoy (COVID-19 financial support), African Union Date uncertain

    Special Envoy to mobilise international financial support for the COVID-19 response; dates not given in the source read.[1]

  3. WHO Special Envoy, Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, World Health Organization Date uncertain

    Special Envoy for the ACT Accelerator; dates not given in the source read.[1]

  4. 2003 to 2006
    Minister of Finance, Federal Government of Nigeria Former

    First term as Nigeria's Finance Minister; headed Nigeria's delegation in the October 2005 Paris Club debt negotiations.[1, 2, 3]

  5. 2004 to 2004
    Chair, Development Committee, World Bank / IMF Development Committee Former

    Chaired the Development Committee in 2004.[1]

  6. 2006 to 2006
    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Government of Nigeria Date uncertain

    Briefly served as Nigeria's Foreign Minister in 2006; exact start and end dates not given in the sources read.[1, 4]

  7. 2007 to 2011
    Managing Director, World Bank Former

    Managing Director (Operations), the World Bank's No. 2 position, after an earlier World Bank career of about 25 years ending in 2003.[1, 2, 4]

  8. 2011 to 2015
    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Federal Government of Nigeria Former

    Second term as Nigeria's Finance Minister.[1, 2]

  9. 2015 to 2019
    Senior Adviser, Lazard Former

    Senior adviser at the financial advisory firm.[1]

  10. 2016-01 to 2020-12
    Chair of the Board, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Former

    Appointed Chair-elect in September 2015 and took office in January 2016; her term was scheduled to end in December 2020, with José Manuel Barroso succeeding her from January 2021.[5, 6]

  11. 2021-03-01
    Director-General, World Trade Organization Current

    Seventh WTO Director-General; selected by members on 15 February 2021; first term ran to 31 August 2025, second four-year term began 1 September 2025 after reappointment by the General Council on 29 November 2024.[1, 7, 8]

Sources

  1. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (biography)World Trade Organization, primary source
  2. Standard Chartered PLC announces appointment of new independent non-executive directorStandard Chartered PLC, 2017-07-28, primary source
  3. Paris Club agrees to a comprehensive treatment of Nigeria's debt (press release)Paris Club, 2005-10-20, primary source
  4. Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaEncyclopaedia Britannica, secondary source
  5. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed Chair-elect of Gavi BoardGavi, the Vaccine Alliance, 2015-09-21, primary source
  6. José Manuel Barroso named new Chair of Gavi BoardGavi, the Vaccine Alliance, 2020-09-29, primary source
  7. Members select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as WTO Director-General / DG statementWorld Trade Organization, 2021-02-15, primary source
  8. General Council reappoints Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for second term as Director-GeneralWorld Trade Organization, 2024-11-29, primary source

Change history

  • 2026-10-26 Record published.

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