I’m not important to warrant art portrait – Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has lauded a portrait of her, drawn by Nigerian artist Bamaiyi Dalandi. Danladi made a life-size pencil drawing of the former Nigeria’s minister of finance, Okonjo-Iweala. It has taken Danladi four years to get the former minister acknowledge the art work. The drawing shows the respected economist in her trademark fashion style: Nigerian-made attire and her signature headscarf.

In her reaction to the beautiful art, she said: “Wow! Several friends have forwarded this to me. I don’t normally like portraits of myself ( I don’t believe I am that important to warrant portraits) but I do want to salute @BamaiyiDanladifor his great talent and creativity.”

“People know I love African , especially Nigerian, art and artists. So much talent and creativity in our country and on the continent!!”  Okonjo-Iweala, a former World Bank executive, came into public reckoning after ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo headhunted her to lead the country’s economy. She served in the capacity between 2003 and 2006, and also between 2011 and 2015.