Great leader progress a country. Their decisions, goals, agenda, actions and results reflect genuine progress and strong patriotism. Nigeria has continually produced great and influential leaders. We will spotlight 5 who are working in 2021 and beyond to progress the country nationally and internationally.
Achieving remarkable feats professionally and personally, these leaders have earned national and global recognition due to their dedication to positive growth in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
Top 5 Progressive Nigerian Leaders making commendable progress in 2021:
1. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is an economist, environmental sustainability advocate and global development expert. Over the years, she has occupied several positions in government, World Bank and is currently the Director-General of World Trade Organization.
Appointed in February 2021, she is the first woman and first African to lead organization. In September 2021, Okonjo-Iweala was listed as one of Time Magazine’s most influential people in the world.
2. Oluseyi Makinde is a businessman, philanthropists and Politician, who is the Governor of Oyo State.
Starting his career as an engineer, Makinde established his first oil and gas private business called Makon Engineering and Technical Services, (METS) at the age of 29 in the year 1997 and has continued to progress steadily till he joined politics.
Makinde was referred to as “serial loser” for his losses but he remained undeterred and won the 2019 Oyo State governorship election. His administration as embarked and accomplished several infrastructure projects from reconstruction of roads to stadium upgrades, construction of housing units, bus terminals and more.
3. Akinwunmi Adesina is a renowned economist and agricultural development expert and currently serving as the president of the Africa Development Bank, the first Nigerian to hold the position.
He previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and was credited for improving the agricultural system in Nigeria and supporting small and medium enterprise (SME).
In addition, he has occupied several positions in international organizations and received several distinctions and global awards.
Read more about Akinwunmi Adesina https://olatorera.com/who-is-akinwumi-adesina-plans-to-become-president-of-nigeria-once-he-retires-from-the-african-development-bank/
4. Chike Obi, also known as MCO was the Managing Director of AMCON (Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria) from 2010- 2015 and an economic adviser to Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation for Nigeria’s 2019 presidential election.
Chike Obi magnified his career in Financial Services in the United States of America when he worked at Goldman Sachs and founded Madison Park Financial Advisors.
He has been an avid player in Nigeria’s political landscape, playing a key support role to Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar during the 2019 elections.
MCO was appointed Chairman of Fidelity Bank of Nigeria in 2021 and later appointed as President of the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN).
5. Amina J. Mohammed is the 5th Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
Prior to this appointment, she served as Nigeria’s Minister of Environment from 2015-2016 and served as an Adviser to four successive Presidents on poverty, public sector reform, and sustainable development. Also, she served with the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to former Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) on Post-2015 Development Planning4 and led the process that resulted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mohammed is a recipient of various global awards and has also been conferred several honorary doctorates. She received the National Honours Award of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2006 and was inducted in the Nigerian Women’s Hall of Fame in 2007.
