Several shades of Okonjo Iweala
The artists did well to portray the former Nigeria’s minister in her trademark headgear, beads and glasses.
The new Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala defied all odds to emerge the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. Since her assumption of office, many Nigerians, especially women said they were inspired by her commitment to breaking limitations. Some of them used their talents to support the former Nigeria’s minister.
Some weeks after the #BeLikeNgozi dominated the social media, some Nigerians are not giving up on their support for the new Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Her emergence inspired Nigerians in several ways from dressing like her to desiring to be like her. Artists in the country have been drawing the economist and international development expert as a way of celebrating her for being an inspiration to many women.
The artists did well to portray the former Nigeria’s minister in her trademark headgear, beads and glasses.
Some Nigerian artists in appreciating her pioneering feat, took their tools to make her glamorous on walls, boards, and most especially in the hearts of Nigerians. Among these artists is a young Nigerian identified as @debbies_art_ on Instagram.
The girl on her posts, including a video, generated more than 6,000 comments quoted, “each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” Deborah said she spent several days and nights painting an image of Okonjo-Iweala with a charcoal pencil on folding boxboard.
Another artist, Tijani Rahman shared his charcoal painting of Okonjo-Iweala on Facebook. He said it took him 10 days to do the 16 by 14 inches portable artwork.
“Done and dusted. I present to you the first female and African to be Director-General of World Trade Organisation, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. I started this piece on 8th February 2021, because I really believe in God over you, in achieving this greatness,” he posted.
The Ibadan-based, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) graduate hopes to present the artwork to the WTO DG someday adding that he used natural dust, eraser, charcoal pencil, charcoal powder, biro, patterned paper, graphite pencil and coloured pencil in doing it.
Another artist, Bamaiya Danladi, who lives in Katsina State did a mural painting of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Danladi did the large painting on a wall and posted it on his Facebook page to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. The posting generated about 500 comments.