Okonjo-Iweala to deliver 45th Pre-Convocation Lecture at ABU

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has announced that the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, will deliver the Pre-Convocation Lecture of the ABU’s 45th Convocation Ceremony.

A statement issued on Monday in Zaria by Malam Auwalu Umar, Director of the Public Affairs Directorate of the university said the former Minister of Finance will present the lecture on Jan. 30, 2026, in Zaria.

He added that the lecture would be chaired by Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Umar, Okonjo-Iweala, who served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister between 2003 and 2006, and again from 2011 to 2015, also briefly acted as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2006.

He added that Okonjo-Iweala was the first woman to occupy both positions.

Umar stated that during her first tenure as Finance Minister, she led negotiations with the Paris Club that resulted in the cancellation of about US$30 billion of Nigeria’s external debt, including an outright write-off of US$18 billion.

He said the lecture was part of the activities marking the university’s 45th Convocation Ceremony stressing that the convocation ceremony would hold on Jan. 31, 2026.

Umar quoted the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed as saying that preparations were in advanced stages to ensure a successful event.