Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
has received an honorary Doctorate degree from Yale University, USA.
Okonjo-Iweala was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters at Yale’s 2015 Commencement Ceremony in New Haven, Connecticut Monday. The award is usually bestowed to scholars, public servants, Nobel Prize winners and heads of states
She was honoured alongside the Chair of the Board of Governors of US Federal Reserve System Janet Yellen, world renowned Beninoise Singer and songwriter Angelique Kidjo and many more.
She becomes the second Nigerian to receive the university’s highest honour after Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka who received an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1980.
Other Africans who have also been honoured by the prestigious institution are Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Giving out the award, the President of the University Professor Peter Salovey described Okonjo-Iweala as “a brilliant reformer and dedicated public servant” who has spearheaded efforts to stabilise and grow Nigeria’s economy, battling widespread government corruption and creating greater fiscal transparency and discipline.”
He continued, “As Finance Minister in 2004, Okonjo-Iweala and the economic team that she led helped Nigeria obtain debt relief, wiping out $30 billion of Paris club debt, leading to a tripling of the growth rates.
The second time around as Finance Minister in 2011, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on building solid foundations and institutions critical for the survival and sustenance of the economy. She bravely fought corruption in governance with fierce dedication and unflagging energy.”