Oby Ezekwesili Biography: Early Life, Age, Husband, Net Worth

Who Is Oby Ezekwesili?

Obiageli Ezekwesili, popularly known as Oby Ezekwesili is a former vice-president of the World Bank African Region (2007-2012). She has served twice as a Minister in Nigeria and even became a presidential candidate during the 2019 Presidential election, but stepped down in January 2019. Oby Ezekwesili has a strong drive for promoting accountability, good governance and transparency in government. During her tenure as Minister in Nigeria, she led various economic and financial reforms.

Biography Profile Bio Data Summary

Oby Ezekwesili Background

Though popularly known as Oby Ezekwesili, her full name is Obiageli Kathryn Ezekwesili, born on April 28, 1963, in Lagos State, Nigeria. She is the first of six children, born to Benjamin Ujubuonu who died in 1988 and her mother Cecilia Nwayiaka Ujubuonu.

Oby Ezekwesili Education

Growing up in Lagos, Oby Ezekwesili attended African One Primary School, Ajegunle, and then United Christian College, Apapa for her secondary education. She had her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and then went on to bag a Master degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. Moving further, Oby Ezekwesili advanced in her studies abroad and obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Oby Ezekwesili Career

Oby Ezekwesili began her career with Deloitte and Touché Akintola Williams. Also, at Harvard, she worked as the Director of the Harvard-Nigeria Economic Strategy Project with professor Jeffrey Sachs at the Center for International Development.

She served as the pioneer Head of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (aka Due Process Unit), during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Her exceptional role in this office earned the nickname ‘madam due process’. Between 2004 – 2007, she served as the Chairperson of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI)

In 2005, she was appointed the Minister of Solid Minerals (Mines and Steel). She was instrumental in creating reforms that made Nigeria globally recognized as a credible mining investment place. She was the pioneer of the Bureau for Public Procurement legislation, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) legislation.

The following year, she was made the Federal Minister of Education where she made contributions like refocusing of the Education Ministry for the attainment of Education for All (EFA) targets and Millennium Development Goals;  introducing the Public-Private Partnership models for education service delivery etc.

In March 2007, she was appointed as the Vice President of the World Bank (Africa Region) by  World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. She served in this role from May 2007 t0 May 2012. During her tenure, she effectively advanced the economic interest of Africa and supervised a lending portfolio of over $40 billion.

READ ALSO: Laycon’s Biography, Career, Education, Net Worth, Education

Awards and Recognition

Oby Ezekwesili is a woman of honour and prestige. Her monumental contributions have earned her the following awards and recognitions:

• Honorary Doctor of Science Degree, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, 2012
• One of the BBC’s 100 Women, 2013 & 2014
• 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
• 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
• One of the #Genius 100 Visionary Thinkers of the Future
• Award of Excellence, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
• Jean Meyer Award, Tuft University EPIIC
• Democracy Ambassador of International IDEA

Who is Oby Ezekwesili Husband?

She is married to a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) named Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili and together they have 3 sons. Her three lovely sons are named Chinemelum, Chinweuba and Chidera.

What is Oby Ezekwesili Net Worth

Oby Ezekwesili net worth is currently unknown at the time of writing this article, stay updated as we will update it once available.