Skip to content
Leadership Timeline

Career chronology

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

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.

Latest source 26 Mar 2026Updated 26 Oct 202613 sources

CurrentNow

Currently Director-General, World Trade Organization, since 1 Mar 2021. 11 dated roles on record.

Identity record: Public Figure Record Verified

Roles, most recent first

  1. 1 Mar 2021 – present
    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 2 3

  2. Jan 2016 – Dec 2020
    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 2021.4 5

  3. 2015 – 2019
    Senior Adviser Lazard Former

    Senior adviser at the financial advisory firm.1

  4. 2011 – 2015
    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Federal Government of Nigeria Former

    Second term as Nigeria's Finance Minister.1 6

  5. 2007 – 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 6 7

  6. 2006 – 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 7

  7. 2004 – 2004
    Chair, Development Committee World Bank / IMF Development Committee Former

    Chaired the Development Committee in 2004.1

  8. 2003 – 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 6 8

  9. 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 6

  10. 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

  11. 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

Where the dates come from

  1. PrimaryDirector-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (biography)World Trade Organization
  2. PrimaryMembers select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as WTO Director-General / DG statementWorld Trade Organization · 15 Feb 2021
  3. PrimaryGeneral Council reappoints Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for second term as Director-GeneralWorld Trade Organization · 29 Nov 2024
  4. PrimaryNgozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed Chair-elect of Gavi BoardGavi, the Vaccine Alliance · 21 Sep 2015
  5. PrimaryJosé Manuel Barroso named new Chair of Gavi BoardGavi, the Vaccine Alliance · 29 Sep 2020
  6. PrimaryStandard Chartered PLC announces appointment of new independent non-executive directorStandard Chartered PLC · 28 Jul 2017
  7. SecondaryNgozi Okonjo-IwealaEncyclopaedia Britannica
  8. PrimaryParis Club agrees to a comprehensive treatment of Nigeria's debt (press release)Paris Club · 20 Oct 2005

Changes

26 Oct 2026 Published after review.

Something wrong? Tell the editors, with a source. Identifier ngozi-okonjo-iweala.