Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Arunma Oteh Win Big At Star-Studded 2025 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards In Pretoria

In 2021, Okonjo-Iweala became the first woman and first African to take on the role of Director-General at the WTO. A global finance expert, economist and international development professional with over 40 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America, she noted in her acceptance speech that young African women inspire her.

“While I’m proud [to be the first woman and African DG], I always have mixed feelings,” she said. “I always feel there should have been a woman prior and an African, why not? But that being said, I’m happy that I’ve been able to break that glass ceiling, and I’m glad that, as many of us continue to break glass ceilings, young African women will hopefully no longer face as many barriers as those who came before them. I have to say that young African women inspire me.”