10 Nigerians Who Hold Top International Positions

By Oluwatosin Ajayi

Nigerians have always made waves at home and abroad. Many have made astounding feats that we cannot overlook. We shall discuss some of those that have made it to top positions in their careers at the international level.

Amanda Azubuike

Azubuike was promoted to the rank of brigadier general of the US army. Born to a Nigerian father and Zimbabwean mother, she currently serves at a military base in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Describing Azubuike, General James Rainey, the US Army Futures Command Commander said she makes everyone around her better.
“I’m honoured to be selected to serve at this level and feel fortunate to serve in my current position. I believe I can contribute here in a meaningful way,” she expressed.
The new brigadier general has worked in different capacities and locations. Some of the honours she has received are the Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation, and Army Achievement Medal.

Kelechi Madu

He is the incumbent deputy premier of Alberta. Madu is also the minister of skilled trades and professions. The Canadian lawyer and politician assumed both offices in October 24. He has also served as the minister of justice and solicitor general, and minister of municipal affairs.

Akolisa Ufodike

Ufodike was appointed as the deputy minister of trade, immigration, and multiculturalism in Alberta. He is also a member of the Canadian Nigerian Chamber of commerce. The Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur and politician is the president of Kainji Resources Ltd. in Nigeria. He is an assistant professor in the School of Administration at the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University in Toronto.

Ayo Owodunni

Owodunni is the first black person to become a city councillor in Kitchener City, Ontario London, Canada. He is currently the city councillor of Ward 5 in Kitchener City. The politician ran for the office on three promises – speeding on local roads, keeping taxes low, and housing affordability.

Kemi Badenoch

Lizz Truss appointed Badenoch to serve as a member of her cabinet. She is also the secretary of state for international trade in the United Kingdom and the president of the board of trade. Also, she is the minister of women and equalities.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The now director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was a former finance minister in Nigeria. She is the first woman and first African to lead this international body. She began her five-year term as the head of the WTO on March 1, 2021 after defeating Yoo Myung-hee. Okonjo-Iweala has served the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Twitter.

Funmi Badejo

Badejo is a special assistant to Joe Biden. In 2021, she became an associate counsel in the White House’s Counsel Office. She has served as the general counsel of the US House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis; counsel for Policy to the Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice; ethics counsel at the White House Counsel’s Office; and attorney advisor at the Administrative Conference of the United States in the past.

Akinwumi Adesina

Adesina is the 8th president of the AfDB. He was the minister of agriculture and rural development before being elected into this position in 2015. The ex-minister of agriculture was reelected as the AfDB president in 2020 for another five-year term.

Chikwe Ihekweazu

Ihekweazu, a Nigerian epidemiologist currently is the WHO assistant director general for health emergency intelligence. He served as the head of the NCDC in 2018.

Amina Mohammed

She is the deputy secretary general of the United Nations. Mohammed also doubles as the chairperson of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. She is a former minister of environment in Nigeria.