NOI: My Hero in Ankara

Ankara originated from Indonesia and in the late 1800s Dutch traders introduced the fabric to the West African market, like Nigerians' disposition to unconformability, the prints and partans were altered to be brighter and bolder till it became the West African symbol of fashion and creativity we know today.

A 100 years later the Leader of the World Trade Organization adopted this print as her emblem of her love and dedication to our country and culture. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, this name was constantly being mentioned on TV at a stage in my life when my biggest worries were wondering if I would have enough time to play with my friends after school and getting my subtraction and multiplication homework right, I would not fathom the importance of the work being done by the first woman to hold the position of Finance Minister (2003-2006, 2011-2015), who ensured my parents maintained a stable standard of living and purchasing power to pay my school fees and buy me all the goodies I demanded in a country that she pulled out of multiple economic turmoils, twice.

She ignited a new level of curiosity and ambition in me again when she became the Managing Director at the World Bank, in a time when I thought positions like that were only reserved for white men in black suits, a black woman from Nigeria in her bright, bold Ankara led the most influential development organization in the world and sent a fortuitous message to every black woman that we can alter complex and important sectors to be brighter, bolder and just right for us like our ancestors did with Ankara, maybe that is why it's her favourite fabric.

There is no hero without an antagonist, and her unmatched foes were men who could not hold their own in a meritocracy and instead stole, lied and killed for resources, power, and positions they could not govern, in Nigeria, we call them enemies of progress. Their actions have plunged millions, 133 million to be precise into multidimensional poverty, separated families, and killed dreams but unintendedly has taught us to cherish people like Dr Ngozi. People who stand for excellence, hard work, impact, fairness, and “Champion for Global Change”.

As Nigeria's Finance Minister, She led unprecedented negotiations, like with the Paris Club, erasing $30 billion of debt, with $18 billion cancelled. She championed reforms to boost transparency and fight corruption, implementing systems like GIFMS (Government Integrated Financial Management System), the IPPMS (Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management System), and the TSA (Treasury Single Accounts). Her global recognition includes Forbes' Top 100 Most Powerful Women (7 times honoured) and twice TIME's Top 100 Most Influential People. She received numerous awards, including the Lord Byron International Prize from the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism, the Global Economy Prize from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the Madeleine K. Albright Global Development Award from the Aspen Institute, the Women's Economic Empowerment Award from WEConnect International, and the Vanguard Award from Howard University. In 2016, she was honoured with the Power with Purpose Award from the Devex Development Communications Network and the Global Fairness Award from the Global Fairness Initiative in recognition of her contribution to sustainable development.

More highlights of her awesomeness, 2014 she received the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, the President of the Italian Republic Gold Medal by the Pia Manzu Centre and the Global Leadership Award by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in 2011, the Global Leadership Award by the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (2010), the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award (2010), the Humanitarian Award for a Lifetime of Public Service and Advocacy of Sustainable International Development of the United Nations Association of New York (2022). Despite a mountain of achievement, one of her most famous quotes goes “When it comes to doing my job, I keep my ego in my handbag.”

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is my greatest inspiration, she made me understand that creativity, science, family and a fulfilled life flourish in a stable economy and it’s a field that needs more women to make decisions for women and kick down doors that say otherwise and this is why she is the Dragon Beside Me.