Forbes, the magazine provides “information for the World’s Business Leaders” has named Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala among five unsung leaders of 2014.
The five leaders include Okonjo-Iweala, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State; Arati Prabhakar, director of the U.S. Department of Defense’s DARPA; HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, brother of Jordan’s King and Felipe Calderon, Former president of Mexico.
The managing director of BIC Consulting Lagos, Dr. Boniface Chizea does not wholly agree that Okonjo-Iweala is not being celebrated in Nigeria. “Nobody can say she is not being celebrated. She has received many awards for her commitment to her fatherland. Though, we have to contextualise the kind of celebration Forbes is talking about,” said Chizea.
“She is in active service to Nigeria and the applause may not come as anticipated but it will come later. That is one area Nigerians have to appreciate President Jonathan Goodluck Jonathan because this is the first time a woman is playing a dominant role in the government.”
Paul Laudicina, contributor to Forbes said: “Who are some of those non-headline leaders from all walks of life and geographies who are making a difference as they have demonstrated “capability, reliability and authenticity”? .
Paul admonished that the reason such leaders have not been identified may be because people “have not looked long or hard enough to find the real leaders right under our gaze”.
“We all know intuitively that none of our institutions would be working at all if there weren’t committed, capable, reliable and authentic leaders delivering on their promises day in and out, and adding value to the lives of the people they serve,” said Paul .
“We also know the difference a respected leader can make in inspiring broader support for noble humanitarian, peacekeeping, or governmental missions.”
