Oby Ezekwesili Biography
Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, popular known and referred to as Oby Ezekwesili is a Nigerian human rights activist, politician and chartered accountant who was one of the presidential candidates for the 2019 Nigerian Elections before she reportedly stepped down. Ezekwesili was born in 1963 and has served the nation in different ramifications.
She is also known for a number of protests which she carried led in a bid to fight for the rights of Nigerians and speak out against the wrong actions of government. The biography of Oby Ezekwisili is presented to you here by iDONSABI.com.
Oby Ezekwesili Early Life
Oby Ezekwesili was born on the 8th of April, 1963 and is from Anambra State of Nigeria. She was born in Lagos but relocated to Anambra state due to the Nigeria- Biafra civil war.
After the war, Oby and her family returned to Lagos where she began her primary education at African One Primary School, Ajegunle. Back in Lagos state, Oby’s mother worked as a trader selling used shoes and bags while her father worked at the Nigeria Port Authority.
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Oby proceeded to obtain secondary school education at the United Christian College, Apapa, Lagos State.
Oby studied at the University of Lagos where she obtained a degree in International Law and Diplomacy. She also proceeded to obtain a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
She underwent training with a firm known as Deloitte and Touche to become a chartered accountant.
Oby Ezekwesili Life and Political Career
Oby worked at the Centre for International Development at Harvard with a man named Professor Jeffrey Sachs until she was given a political appointment during the Obasanjo administration.
Oby was the pioneer Head of Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence unit. She was nicknamed Madam Due Process due to her dogmatic resilience in following due process in all the unit’s activities especially as related to public procurement and contracting at the federal level.
While in the government position, she became the architect of a number of legislations including the Bureau for Public procurement Legislation, the new Minerals and Mining Legislation and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Legislation.
In the year 2005, Oby was again appointed as the Minister of Solid Minerals (Mines and Steel). She was also the Chairperson of NEITI and was known have led the first national implementation of the global standards and principles of transparency in the oil, gas and mining sector of Nigeria.
In 2006, she was appointed as the Federal Minister of Education in Nigeria.
In 2007, Oby was appointed as the Vice president of the World Bank for the African Region. The appointment was announced by the President of the World Bank, Mr Paul Wolfowitz. Oby completed her World Bank appointment successfully in the year 2012.
Oby Ezekwesili is the Senior Economic Advisor of the Open Society founded by Billionaire George Soros.
She is also a part of the board of several organisation including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the New African Magazine, The Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy, The centre for Global Leadership, Tufts University and the Central European University School of Public Policy .
In April 2014, Oby pioneered a campaign movement intended to stir efforts to bring back the over 200 Chibok school girls that were abducted by Boko Haram in Borno State of Nigeria. The advocacy grouped was tagged BringBackOurGirls
In July 2014, Oby was allegedly detained at the Airport and had her passport seized. She was released later the same morning.
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In 2018, Oby declared her interest in contesting for the office of the president of Nigeria in the 2019 general elections under the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria.
However, on the 24th of January, 2019, she was reported to have pulled out of the presidential race. It was reported that this was due to reasons pertaining to divergence of values within her chosen political party as well as a resolve to help build a coalition for a viable alternative the PDP/APC candidates in the election.
Oby Ezekwesili Net Worth
Ezekwesili’s net worth is not publicised. Apart from serving as Minister in Nigeria, Ezekwesili had also taken positions outside the country.
Oby Ezekwesili is the co-founder of a global anti-corruption body known as Transparency International with its base in Berlin, Germany.
Oby was reportedly named as a Director of Bharti Airtel a leading telecommunications firm that operates in over 20 countries.
Oby Ezekwesili Marriage
Oby Ezekwesili is married to a zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili.
Oby Ezekwesili Children
Oby has two children, Chuba Ezekwesili and Chine Ezekwesili. Her children had to travel abroad with her to continue their education when she was appointed as the vice president of the World Bank.
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Oby Ezekwesili Awards and Honours
Oby Ezekwesili has been recognised and given awards both nationally and globally.
In 2012, she received an honorary award of Doctor of Science from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
In 2014, she was named one of BBC’s 100 Women.
In 2015, she was named one of the Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World, and Genius
In the year 2018, Oby Ezekwesili was nominated for the Novel Peace Prize based on her work on transparency.
