On 15th February 2021, I woke up to a message from my Mum, who lives in Nigeria, saying, “I celebrate with our hero Okonjo Iweala as the first woman to be appointed as the director-general of the World Trading [Trade] Organization…”). I was amazed, but not at the historic appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. I was amazed that my Mum, an almost 70yrs old grandma, knows about Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, her appointment and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Indeed, so many individuals and organizations have congratulated her, thrilled at the historic appointment, and emphasized the gender implications. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s ascension through the proverbial glass ceiling created a resounding boom with echoes of the shattering and falling glasses. The more I read the accolades, the more I wondered about this lady, not concerned about the litany of her achievements (First female, Nigeria’s Finance Minister twice 2003-2006, 2011-2015, Managing Director World Bank, etc.) but the person. Is she a ‘butter’ (from a privileged background) or a ‘kpako’ (from a background of poor and struggling parents), borrowing slang from my birthplace Warri. A google search about the history of Ngozi took me to her website, which turned out to be another listing of her highly impressive and excellent career trajectory.
It is a little baffling, I thought to myself. Could this excellence have been formed ‘right from the mother’s womb’? Where are the stories of or a glimpse into the gruelling process, the hardship that produced this gem? As I delved into reading about her, I came across her quote during an interview with the BBC in 2012. She reportedly said, “I can take hardship. I can sleep on the cold floor anytime”. Aha! I recalled how diamonds are formed; there is always the hardness, the cold, the time.
It takes pressure to make diamonds. Diamond forms at a depth of 150 – 200 km below the Earth’s surface. The temperature averages 900 – 1300 Celsius, with a pressure of 45 to 60kilobars, and they formed over 3billion years ago. What pressure indeed formed our hero? She and those closest to her will know better, but she showed great strength in 2012 when kidnappers snatched her mother in Nigeria. The ransom was Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s resignation – she refused to resign! The government eventually rescued her mother. I continued to ponder the possible challenges she would have gone through to arrive at this illustrious position. I could not help but think of the cold hard floor she referred to above.
The cold hard floor will generally symbolize social or economic hardship and represent, especially for females, child poverty. Our gaze is turned towards the ‘glass ceiling,’ cheering another ascension through the invisible barrier in celebrating Dr Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala. Let us not forget the many female adults and children languishing under the burden of poverty. Consequently, they struggle against lack of food, bare essentials such as housing, education or healthcare. Too often, the lightbulb of success curves upwards. Still, with warm wishes of success to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a fellow Nigerian female, I want to redirect it for this one second on the girl child, the woman, who dreams of a warm blanket, a warm meal, a loving home, adequate healthcare and quality education. That girl child and adult woman are saying to you, “We can take success, We can break through glass ceilings” if you turn your gaze on us.
My Mum’s message ended with a prayer, written in Caps for emphasis, “ [I am] BELIEVING GOD THAT MY DAUGHTER[‘s] ELEVATION WILL ALSO HAPPEN VERY SOON…” After reading her message, I texted ‘amen’ to her prayer and smiled to myself – A mother’s love. Indeed, women’s conviction and dedication will provoke the desired difference.
As we at Think Africa join the world in celebrating women today, we look forward to and continue to work towards all women’s social, economic and political elevation. For us, we are starting with the African woman. What about you?
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Written by: Dr Christal O. Spel (Ph.D. Social and Public Policy), an Independent Researcher and a board member at Think Africa ry.
