UNIZIK Names Female Hostel After Okonjo-Iweala for Her Global Impact, Inspirational Legacy

By Tony Okafor, Awka

The Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, has approved the naming of its newly completed female hostel after Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in honour of her extraordinary achievements and service to humanity.

In a statement released by the university’s Public Relations Unit, the decision was described as a tribute to Okonjo-Iweala’s sterling qualities as a world-class economist and advocate for gender equity.

It also aims to serve as a lasting source of inspiration to the university’s female students.

Speaking on the development, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi, said the naming was part of the university’s commitment to promoting excellence and encouraging students—especially young women—to emulate the values of hard work, integrity, and global service exemplified by Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.

“Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is not just a Nigerian icon; she is a global figure who has continued to break barriers and open doors for women across the world.

“Naming this hostel after her is our way of celebrating her and inspiring our students to aim higher,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who currently serves as the first woman and first African to head the WTO, is widely respected for her groundbreaking work in global finance, international trade, and sustainable development.

A former two-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria and former Managing Director of the World Bank, she has consistently championed economic reforms, poverty reduction, and women’s empowerment both at home and abroad.

Her recent efforts at the WTO include pushing for equitable access to vaccines, promoting inclusive trade policies, and amplifying the voices of developing countries in global trade negotiations.

The newly completed female hostel is part of UNIZIK’s ongoing infrastructural development agenda aimed at improving campus life and providing a conducive environment for academic pursuit, particularly for female students.

The gesture comes at a time when institutions across the world are reassessing how to honour transformative leadership and uphold role models whose stories resonate with younger generations.

For many students of UNIZIK, the new hostel name is more than symbolic—it is a call to greatness.