Washington, DC — The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, CAMAC Energy Inc., and The Whitaker Group co-hosted a reception and Tribute for the Honorable Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili, who will soon be leaving her post as Vice President for the World Bank's Africa Region after serving in the position for five years.
Over 100 members of the African Ambassador Corps, global business and policy leaders, representatives from the World Bank, IMF, civil society, and NGOs joined President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in recognizing Dr. Ezekwesili's contributions to Africa's development.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) welcomed guests during the reception and praised Dr Ezekwesili's contributions to developing strategic partnerships between the US government, the World Bank and African countries.
Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), also spoke of her contributions to the international development dialogue: "Many of the things that [USAID] has been coming to as best practices and our focus going forward are things that Oby has pioneered during a tremendous career at the World Bank."
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was among many who sent their greetings through video, as well as Tony Elumelu, former chief of United Bank for Africa: "Your appointment as VP to the World Bank was a testament to your hard work, commitment, and love for issues concerning Africa. Following that appointment, you became a role model for thousands across Nigeria, and indeed across Africa."
Delivering the keynote tribute was H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, who heaped praise on Dr. Ezekwesili's professional record and fondly recounted several stories from their long friendship: "Part of Oby's success lies in her ability to summarize complex policy arguments into elegant, memorable and simple ideas – Africa is the 'now', no longer the future".
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This elegance is matched, President Kagame stated, by a bluntness that underscores the realness and urgency of her arguments. Speaking on her legacy at the Bank, the President Kagame said Dr. Ezekwesili's record of achievements are something that all Africans should be proud of: "She is leaving [the World Bank] better suited to serve Africa, and we are equally proud to consider her as one of our own here in Rwanda, where she has fought and acted as one of us."
Dr. Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education and Minister of Mines and Minerals for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, came to the World Bank with a demonstrated record of achievement as a pioneer and public servant. Under her leadership in the Africa region, the World Bank's lending to Africa rose exponentially to over 40 billion dollars, which was dedicated to agricultural development, economic empowerment and access to health, education and financial support for the most vulnerable in the region. According to Rosa Whitaker, President and CEO of the Whitaker Group, Dr. Ezekwesili is "driven by a cherished and fundamental belief that opportunity should not be bestowed arbitrarily, but incontrovertibly".
Ms. Whitaker joined Steve McDonald, Director of the Africa Program at the Wilson Center, in presenting Dr. Ezekwesili with an award in honor of her achievements. She graciously acknowledged President Kagame and the shining example that his stewardship of Rwanda's economic and social transformation serves for the whole continent: "I've always believed in development as being part of a process, exemplified by a strength of will and resilience on the part of the people… the vision, dignity, integrity, strength of character and sense of fortitude that [President Kagame] has demonstrated has been an important factor in the progress of Rwanda."
