Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
- Former Vice President, World Bank
- Founding Director, Transparency International
- Founder, #FixPolitics
- Founder, School of Politics Policy and Governance(SPPG)
- Founder, Human Capital Africa
- Founder #RedCardMovement
- Two-time Minister, Nigeria
- Senior fellow, Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
- Senior economic advisor, Open Society
- Senior Economic Adviser, Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative
- Former presidential candidate, ACPN
- Board member of many universities and funds
- Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)
- Nominee, Nobel Peace Prize
- Forbes Woman Africa 2019
- Time 100 Most Influential People
- WIV Op Most impactful woman of the year
- Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Public Service, Harvard
- Numerous fellowships, awards, nominations, honorary doctorate degrees etc
- Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili is a Nigerian economic policy expert, advocate for transparency, accountability, good governance, and human capital development, humanitarian, and activist . Here are some key facts about her:
- Early Life and Education
- Born on April 28, 1963, in Lagos State, Nigeria
- Holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University
- Career
- Served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and Federal Minister of Education in Nigeria
- Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa region from 2007 to 2012
- Co-founder and founding Director of Transparency International
- Senior fellow at Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
- Advocacy and Activism
- Co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement
- Founder of the #FixPolitics Initiative and the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG)
- Advocate for transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria
- Awards and Recognition
- Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2006
- Honorary Doctor of Science (DSC) degree from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta in 2012
- Named one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine in 2015
- Received the Forbes Woman Africa Social Influencer Award in 2019
- Personal Life
- Married to Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
- Has three sons : Chinemelum, Chinweuba, and Chidera