Forbes has named former minister of finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Africa Person of the Year 2020, Igbere TV reports.

“The 2020 #AfricanOftheYear Award honoree is…Congratulations to Dr. @NOlweala! Board Chair @Gavi; Board Chair @ARCapicity, gracing the cover of @forbesafrica,” Forbes tweeted on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/forbesafrica/status/1333817518545395716?s=20

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala responded, saying she was excited to receive the award.

“Thrilled to be named Forbes Africa-CNBC ‘2020 African of the Year’ following in the footsteps of my great brothers Paul Kagame and Akin Adesina,” she wrote.

https://twitter.com/NOIweala/status/1333888386881478656?s=20

Okonjo-Iweala, who has been the chair of Board of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation since January 2016, dedicated the award to all Africans.

The 66-year-old is bidding to be the first woman to head the World Trade Organisation. She faces competition from South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.

Meanwhile, Nigerians who have bagged the Forbes award in the past include president of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina; former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Lamido Sanusi; president of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote among others.

Lalasticlala

Keep on shining Ngoo. even though we wish you are one of us but we the Yorubas are proud of you

She's a Pan-Africanist. More grace to her efforts. I don't know why a nation will have this kind of one-in-a-million brain yet choose to elect a senile, uneducated, unemployable tribalist as their president.

What an Icon she is.

Hardly will you ever see such a smart and intelligent woman call herself a feminist.

More grace and wins to her.

great woman, her speech are always inspiring

NOI is blessed beyond measure