Dr. Oby Ezekwesili Biography
Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, a former vice-president of the World Bank’s African Region, is more commonly known by her nickname, Oby Ezekwesili (2007-2012). She served as a minister in Nigeria on two different occasions, and she even entered the 2019 presidential election in Nigeria, but she withdrew from the race in January 2019.
Oby Ezekwesili is an extremely driven person who is dedicated to increasing transparency, good governance, and accountability within the government. She was the impetus for a lot of significant economic and financial improvements while she was Nigeria’s Minister.
Dr Oby Ezekwesili Parents
Her full name is Obiageli Kathryn Ezekwesili, however, she goes by the nickname Oby Ezekwesili more frequently. In Lagos State, Nigeria, on April 28, 1963, she was born. She was the first of six children born to her mother Cecilia Nwayiaka Ujubuonu and her father Benjamin Ujubuonu, who passed away in 1988.
Dr Oby Ezekwesili Education
Oby Ezekwesili was raised in Lagos, where she attended African One Primary School in Ajegunle for her basic school and United Christian College in Apapa for her secondary education. She finished her undergraduate studies at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka before going on to the University of Lagos to complete her master’s degree in international law and diplomacy. After that, Oby Ezekwesili pursued her education abroad and eventually graduated with a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Dr Oby Ezekwesili Career
She was the first person to occupy the job of Head of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit, commonly known as the Due Process Unit, at the period when President Olusegun Obasanjo was in office. She earned the nickname “madam due process” because of her remarkable performance in this role. Between 2004 to 2007, she served as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s chairperson (NEITI)
In the year 2005, she was appointed Minister of Solid Minerals. (Steel and Mines). She was crucial in the development of the laws that made Nigeria a respectable destination for mining investment on a worldwide scale. She was the first to suggest the legislation that would become the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act and the Bureau for Public Procurement.
She was appointed to the position of Federal Minister of Education the following year, where she made numerous contributions, including refocusing the Ministry of Education on the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All (EFA) targets, introducing the Public-Private Partnership models for education service delivery, etc.
In March 2007, she was appointed Vice President of the World Bank for the Africa Region by Paul Wolfowitz, who was the World Bank’s President at the time. She served in this capacity from May 2007 until May 2012, all dates included. She worked hard to advance Africa’s economic goals throughout her time there and managed a lending portfolio with a $40 billion overall worth.
Awards and Recognition
- Jean Meyer Award, Tuft University EPIIC
- One of the BBC’s 100 Women, 2013 & 2014
- Considered for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Transparency International.
- One of World’s 100 Most Influential People, Time Magazine, 2019
- Vanguard Award, Howard University, 2019
- Award of Recognition, as leaders of Concerned Professional in this era, June 12 Pro-Democracy Movement, 2019
- Social Influencer Award, ‘for launching the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign online’ Forbes Woman Africa, 2019
- Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, 2012
- One of the #Genius 100 Visionary Thinkers of the Future
- Award of Excellence, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
- One of the Time-100 Most Influential People, Time Magazine, 2015
- One of the 25 Women of Impact, New York Times, 2015
- Woman of Impact (along with Melinda Gates), The Women in The World, New York 2016
- Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business, University of Essex Business School, 2016
- Democracy Ambassador of International IDEA
Dr Oby Ezekwesili Husband
She is married to Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), and the two are the proud parents of three children. She has given her three children the lovely names Chinemelum, Chinweuba, and Chidera.
Dr Oby Ezekwesili Net worth
On none of her social media pages, Oby Ezekwesili boasts about her expensive cars. On the other hand, we believe that she owns typical fancy cars given the international positions and offices she holds.