Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and a host of others, who were last week named to the Time Magazine annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, have been honoured at a gala in New York
The Minister was named in the “Leaders” category, which features Presidents and Prime Ministers, alongside Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Shinzo Abe of Japan, Xi Jinping of China, US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Nerandra Modi of India and Iran’s Hassan Rouhani.
Described as the “Guardian of Nigeria’s Public Funds”, the Minister, whose profile was written by Irish Musician Bono, was hailed for taking up “one of the toughest jobs on the planet”.
Commenting on the honour, Ms Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am delighted and honoured to be included in this August list. I could not be happier that someone of Bono’s distinction, a lover of Africa, wrote about me.
“I am grateful to God that two Nigerians were recognised this year. It is wonderful for Nigeria. I see that other Africans were also recognised. So, I think it is a measure of where our continent is heading despite all our challenges.”
Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote was also included in the list.
Now in its 11th year, the list recognises the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.
