Obiageli Ezekwesili honoured with Forbes Woman Africa Social Influencer Award

Former Education Minister, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has been announced as Forbes Woman Africa Social Influencer at the prestigious Forbes Woman Africa Awards inaugural gala dinner held this March in Durban, South Africa.

A former vice-president for Africa of the World Bank, co-founder of Transparency International, and anti-corruption activist, the award celebrates her efforts in launching the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media. Due to the global collaboration on the crisis, she was also named one of the World’s 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine and was shortlisted for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.

The awards event recognised a selection of Africa’s most influential women in business, sports, science, entertainment and leadership, including Dr. Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula (Forbes Woman Africa Businesswoman of the Year Award); Rachel Sibande (Forbes Woman Africa Gen Y Award); Caster Semenya (Forbes Woman Africa Sports Award); Sho Madjozi (Forbes Woman Africa Entertainer Award); Uche Pedro (Forbes Woman Africa New Media Award), among others.

“The ceremony was the perfect conclusion to a highly constructive day of networking and concept sharing by Africa’s most dynamic women,” said Methil Renuka, managing editor of Forbes Africa and Forbes Woman Africa. “I would like to congratulate every award recipient – the work they are doing is impacting the lives of millions of young women worldwide, creating a space for them to, in turn, make their mark in a meaningful way.”

The dinner followed a full day of panel discussions and talks by New Wealth Creators from across Africa at the fourth annual Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit (#LWS2019KZN), hosted by the KZN Provincial Government in association with ABSA, the IDC, and Women of Africa.

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About Obiageli Ezekwesili

Oby Ezekwesili is a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee and a member of The Albert Einstein Foundation’s #Genius100. She was, at different times, Nigeria’s Minister of Minerals and Minister of Education under President Olusegun Obasanjo. She is a former Vice-President of the World Bank where she delivered economic policy advisory worth over $40billion in finance as well as convening partnerships for 46 African countries in support of their economic and social development programs.

Ezekwesili is reputed to be the first woman selected for the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2006. She is a leading voice in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, a sought after speaker, and an advocate for good governance.