Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Delay Is Not Denial

This is a story of the glory of two Ngozis, who have brought so much glory and international attention to Nigeria this year. The first and younger Ngozi is a 30-year old author, who beat all contestants world-wide, to win the prestigious and much coveted Orange Broadband (£30,000) Prize for fiction, with her book, "Half of A Yellow Sun".

Exactly four months ago in June 2007, Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie beat veterans much older than her in the fictional literature game, in fact she looked more like their granddaughter.

The second and most familiar to us, is the indefatigable former Minister of finance and later, foreign affairs in Nigeria. This time, 52-year old Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's unflagging, trademark head-tie took another leap, flying higher above her mockers, to the coveted position of Managing Director of the World Bank in charge of Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia regions.

An irrepressible fighter, who fought and won all the battles against forces whom she described as: "... vested interests still try to undermine me,..." Those interests eventually forced her to resign, when they could not beat her in the game of integrity. they were bent on winning the 2007 elections by hook or crook, and felt the the financial corruption tool for winning that election would be hindered unless she leaves the system.

A few months later when she aspired for the UN's number 2 seat of deputy secretary general, those forces still pulled the presidential strings to shot down her ambitions. Now she has been catapulted by fate to higher position, in spite of their oppositions. She is listed by Forbes as the 62nd most powerful woman in the world.

I congratulate her on this attainment and urge her to take Africa's poverty, with the same passion with which she carried her younger sister 40 years ago, trekking for over 5 kilometers, to the nearest medical assistance, so that she won't die of malaria.

Africa needs you... for example, no African country is fully recognized on PayPal, the most popular and largest online payment system. I say this because, like so many Africans, I am an online entrepreneur selling my writing skills but typically hindered because many of us miss the opportunity of earning greater incomes online, (wealth transfer), because our continent is not listed among those that can receive payment by PayPal.

Having given Nigeria a taste of proud leadership for 3 years (2003-2006), that makes us to lift up our heads again in the comity of nations, I look forward with eager assurance to your return one day soon, to lead us out of the woods. The hands that rocks the cradle successfully, would surely rule the world well.