Nigerian Twitter is still in a super celebratory mood as former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala becomes the next World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General. Okonjo-Iweala,66, is now a certified role model for Nigerian and African women, and rightly so especially as her distinctive Ankara apparels with matching headgears speak true to her roots. The appointment makes the Nigerian-American the first Black woman to occupy the global organization. Also, she becomes the first African to occupy the position after a special meeting of the General Counsel. Okonjo-Iweala’s vast experience makes her suitable for the job. Besides serving as Nigeria’s finance minister, she also served as a Managing Director of the World Bank where she had oversight responsibility for the World Bank’s operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia.
A feat that is worth celebrating now and for generations to come, many Nigerians took to Twitter wearing her signature look as some did for Vice President Kamala Harris during the inauguration ceremony last month wearing pearls and chucks.
The #Ankara Army has assembled and is rallying behind the new WTO boss sparking the #belikeNgozi challenge among other challenges.
Twitter user and Life Bank founder Temie Giwa-Tubosun threw a challenge in search of the best dressed who takes away a cash prize of 100,000 naira ($262) with the hashtag, #NOIGoesToWTO.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s tomorrow! #NoiGoesToWTO! We are giving away N100k to the best dressed! Dress up like NOI and send her a message of support as she goes to WTO! #AnkaraArmy stand up!!!!”
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s tomorrow! #NoiGoesToWTO! We are giving away N100k to the best dressed! Dress up like NOI and send her a message of support as she goes to WTO! #AnkaraArmy stand up!!!! pic.twitter.com/iT3LNB0Aa0
— Temie Giwa-Tubosun (@temite) February 14, 2021
The challenge, which has been shared over 30,000 times under different hashtags, has even caught the attention of the woman of the moment as she thanked everyone for the massive show of support and love.
“Thanks to Temi @temite & all my wonderful sisters who dressed up in Ankara yesterday. Thank you for all your messages of support. I’m delighted & honoured to see so many getting the “gele” right. Please let me know who won the challenge. #AnkaraArmy #BeLikeNgoziChallenge #NoiGoesToWTO“
Thanks to Temi @temite & all my wonderful sisters who dressed up in Ankara yesterday.Thank you for all your messages of support. I’m delighted&honored to see so many getting the “gele” right. Please let me know who won the challenge. #AnkaraArmy #BeLikeNgoziChallenge #NoiGoesToWTO https://t.co/bl3DHQ8vFQ
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) February 16, 2021
Here are some of the commemorative posts from Nigerian Twitter.
@NOIweala I admire you greatly. This win is for all of us.
Finally, a challenge I can join!
@temite #NoiGoesToWTO #BeLikeNgoziChallenge#AnkaraArmy #Enugutwitter pic.twitter.com/4VgYgd7HpS
@temite #NoiGoesToWTO #BeLikeNgoziChallenge#AnkaraArmy #Enugutwitter pic.twitter.com/4VgYgd7HpS— nigerianstories.com (G o l d i e
) (@Team_Hibaya) February 16, 2021
) (@Team_Hibaya) February 16, 2021A challenge worth joining
Congratulations To @NOIweala #BeLikeNgoziChallenge #WTODG #NoiGoesToWTO #AnkaraArmy pic.twitter.com/RIkYJH8lji
— Nwa Ada Eze
(@iamngozi_) February 16, 2021
#BeLikeNgoziChallenge pic.twitter.com/Lc5ouX7O20— AUNTY ADA (@Auntyadaa) February 16, 2021
This is my entry for #NoiGoesToWTO #BelikeNgoziChallenge
I told you @temite I had a special entry. Please vote for us guys. @NOIweala we are so proud of you. Thank you for giving my daughter and so many African girls someone to look up to. pic.twitter.com/Vr3wN34c78
— Tolulope Adeleru-Balogun (@tolulopeab) February 15, 2021
My baby’s entry for #BelikeNgozichallenge pic.twitter.com/ip2aMSlfal
— Jime_vieve (@jime_vieve) February 16, 2021