Former Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala bagged two international jobs in one fell swoop on Monday.
She was named Chair of the 28-member Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, GAVI. The vaccine alliance is founded by Bill and Melinda Gates.
GAVI is a $12 billion multilateral international public-private partnership committed to saving the lives of children and protecting people’s health by improving access to immunization in developing countries, including Nigeria.
GAVI, which disburses grants of upwards of $1.8 billion annually to developing countries for immunization programmes, brings together developing countries and donor governments, including the World Health Organization, WHO; United Nations International Children’s Education Fund, UNICEF, and the World Bank.
Okonjo-Iweala would be succeeding a former Norwegian Minister of Health and current Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten, as Chair of GAVI.
Okonjo-Iweala was also hired by the 167-year-old global sovereign advisory investment firm, Lazard, as Senior Advisor.
“We are proud to welcome Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as a Senior Advisor to our world-leading sovereign advisory group. She will bring a unique international expertise and experience that will benefit both our sovereign and corporate clients,” Matthieu Pigasse, Lazard’s global head of mergers and acquisitions and sovereign advisory, said in a statement.
Okonjo-Iweala who still divides opinion back home for the way she managed the economy under two Nigerian Presidents, says she is excited to kick-start another chapter in her financial career. She’ll be operating from Paris, Geneva and London.
“I am excited to be embarking on this fresh journey. The two appointments will enable me to continue doing what I know best – rendering public service and using my financial and economist skills. I thank the international community for the recognition and continued support. I am also grateful for the prayers and support of many Nigerians.
“I’m excited to join GAVI to immunize 300 million more children in the next five years and save 5 million to 6 million more lives,” she said.
