Director-general of the World Trade Organisation Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been named in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2021 which was released on Wednesday.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala also made the cover for the print of Time 100.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan wrote a piece in celebration of the WTO boss’s work especially in ending the pandemic.
“As we face a constant barrage of vaccine misinformation, bureaucratic slowdowns across both government and industry, and the rise of variants that underscore the urgency of the situation, Okonjo-Iweala has shown us that to end the pandemic, we must work together to equip every nation with equitable vaccine access,” a part of the piece published on the TIME website read.
“Our conversations with her have been as informative as they are energizing. This is partly because, despite the challenges, she knows how to get things done—even between those who don’t always agree—and does so with grace and a smile that warms the coldest of rooms.”
Okonjo-Iweala tweeted that she was honoured to have been recognised by the prestigious organisation. She also thanked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the piece.
“Honoured and privileged to be on the cover of Time Magazine and to be recognized as one of the world’s most influential leaders! Profound thanks to the Duke And Duchess of Sussex for their kind words. All glory to God!” she wrote.
Okonjo-Iweala, who is the only Nigerian on the 2021 Time 100, is the first African and first woman to lead the WTO.
Others who made the list include the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Naomi Osaka, Britney Spears, Angelique Kidjo, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Kamala Harris.
