Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili is a Nigerian economic policy expert, advocate for transparency, and activist. She served as Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa Region (2007-2012), overseeing operations in 48 Sub-Saharan countries. She was Nigeria’s Minister of Education (2006-2007) and Minister of Solid Minerals (2005-2006), and headed the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit, earning the nickname “Madam Due Process” for reforming public procurement.
Ezekwesili co-founded Transparency International and was a pioneer director (1994-1999). She also co-founded the #BringBackOurGirls movement in 2014, advocating for the release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls, contributing to the freedom of 107 girls. She founded the #FixPolitics Initiative, the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG), and Human Capital Africa, focusing on governance and education. A 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, she ran for Nigeria’s presidency in 2019.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, a master’s in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos, and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. A chartered accountant, she worked at Deloitte & Touche and with Jeffrey Sachs at Harvard. She’s a senior economic advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI) and chairs the Women Political Leaders (WPL) board.
Ezekwesili is married to Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, with three sons, and is an ordained pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. She’s received honors like the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) and honorary doctorates from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and the University of Essex.