Okonjo-Iweala to speak at Aspen’s ‘exceptional individual’ event

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Leading Nigerian and African Economist, would deliver Aspen Institute’s fifth annual Madeline K. Albright Global Development Lecture on Wednesday, 2nd August 2017.

The lecture series recognizes an exceptional individual who has contributed immensely to tackling the challenges of global development.

Okonjo-Iweala served as a two time Finance Minister of Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015 where she was responsible for managing the finances of Africa’s largest economy.

She pushed for reforms relating to public transparency and ensured Nigeria got a debt relief from the Paris Club during her first outing as minister.

She also served as the Managing Director of the World Bank and was the first female and black to contest the presidency.

She is currently the senior adviser at Lazard, a global advisory and asset management firm and chairs the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation in addition to her recent appointment as a non executive director of Standard Chartered Bank in the United Kingdom.

The event will begin with the opening remarks by Aspen Institute President and CEO, Walter Isaacson which will be followed by remarks from Okonjo-Iweala and Madeline Albright, the erstwhile US Secretary of State under Bill Clinton.

Aspen Institute Vice-President for policy and programmes, Peggy Clark will moderate the conversation which Okonjo-Iweala and Albright will participate in.

Story by Tony Ademiluyi