[Brief of African Figures] (41) ‘Reformer who broke the glass ceiling’ Okonjo-Iweala, the first female head of the WTO

(Cairo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Sang-hoon = The name of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (72), Secretary-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is always preceded by the modifiers 'the first woman' and 'the first person from Africa'.

It’s not just about symbolic titles. Behind it lies a significant trajectory that has led to substantive reform.

As Nigeria's finance minister, he is evaluated as a strong administrator who canceled the country's enormous national debt and fought against vested corruption, and as a talented economist who rose to the position of vice president of the World Bank.

◇ The will of devotion that blossomed from the horrors of war

She was born in British Nigeria in 1954 as a scholar and the daughter of a traditional monarch, but her childhood life was harsh.

He fled in the midst of the horrors of the Nigerian civil war (Biafra War) in the late 1960s. He once saved the life of his three-year-old sister, who was suffering from malaria, by carrying her on her back and walking 3km to a tent clinic.

The horrors he experienced as a child later became the deep roots of his dedication to vaccines and poverty issues.

After overcoming the scars of war and going to the United States to study, he received a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University and a doctorate in regional economic development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Afterwards, he joined the World Bank and became Vice President, devoting himself to eradicating poverty in developing countries.

◇ ‘Okonjo Wahala’… A thorn in the side of corrupt forces

His true worth shined even brighter when he returned to his home country. While serving as Nigeria's finance minister for two terms, he achieved the forgiveness of a massive national debt of $30 billion after persistent negotiations with the Paris Club (a group of major creditor countries).

In order to tighten the finances of the corruption cartel through transparent budget disclosure and strong financial reforms, political opponents gave him the insulting nickname 'Okonjo-Wahala', which means 'troublemaker' in the Nigerian Pidgin language.

However, he treated the ridicule more like a medal, saying, "I am very proud to have become a problem for thieves of the national budget."

Even though his mother was kidnapped by corrupt forces, he resolutely resisted pressure to resign. The kidnapping of his mother, who was released safely, remained as an anecdote that proved his unwavering tenacity.

◇ Friendly competition with Yoo Myung-hee, and the role model called ‘Korea’

After serving as Nigeria's first female foreign minister and chairman of the board of directors of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), she stepped forward as a savior for the multilateral trade system, which was in crisis in 2020.

In the final round of the WTO Secretary-General election, he left a deep impression on Korea by engaging in a fierce and friendly competition with Korea's then-Korea Trade Negotiation Director Yoo Myung-hee.

Although there were difficulties in the appointment due to the veto exercise of the US administration at the time of Donald Trump, who advocated 'country first', he was finally elected as the head of the WTO in February 2021 with support after the resignation of Director Yoo Myung-hee and the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration.

Since taking office, he has been evaluated as taking the lead in protecting the values ​​of free trade against the protectionist trend that uses tariffs as a weapon.

In this process, he has shown special affection for Korea, which benefited from the multilateral trade system and leapt from the ruins of war to become an economic powerhouse, citing it as 'the most exemplary success story.'

He mentioned Korea's development several times and called for 're-globalization' as an alternative, breaking down the country's selfish trade barriers and bringing marginalized countries into the mainstream.

◇ Pragmatic leadership and ‘signature look’ also attract attention.

The colorful traditional African costumes and headscarves (gele) that attract attention on the international stage show his practical side.

It is often interpreted as a ‘highly political message announcing African identity.’ However, in reality, as a working mother of four children during her time at the World Bank, her habit of saving time choosing clothes every morning and wearing cheap traditional fabrics instead of expensive Western-style suits has solidified into her signature look that symbolizes her today.

He says, “Women should always work twice as hard as men.” Even in adversity, it is leaving a clear mark as a strong support for multilateralism.

In recognition of these achievements, he was reappointed with the consent of member countries, and his second term began in September 2025.