WASHINGTON, DC – Global Financial Integrity (GFI) Advisory Board Member and Nigerian Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is to be nominated by developing world nations to replace outgoing World Bank President Robert Zoellick when his term expires in June.  The Wall Street Journal reports today that Min. Okonjo-Iweala will receive the backing of South Africa, Angola and Nigeria to fill the top role at the international financial institution.

“Ngozi has been a steadfast supporter of GFI’s work to curtail illicit financial flows and advance transparency proposals at the World Bank and within the global community at-large,” said GFI Director Raymond Baker.   “She is eminently qualified and would make a terrific World Bank President.”

A long-time proponent of financial transparency, Min. Okonjo-Iweala has served as a member of the GFI advisory board since 2007.

Appointed finance minister of Nigeria in 2003, she was the first woman to ever hold the position, before briefly becoming the nation’s first female foreign minister in 2006.  In August 2006, she left Nigeria for a managing director position at the World Bank, which she held until returning to Nigeria to serve again as minister last year.

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Press Contact:

Clark Gascoigne
+1 202 293 0740 ext.222
cgascoigne@gfintegrity.org

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 at 3:46 pm and is filed under Media, Press Releases.