The minister of Finance and the coordinating minister for the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said that the Honorary Doctorate Degree awarded her by American Yale University was due to her resolve to do “do the right thing” in difficult situations.
Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, the minister’s spokesman, disclosed this in a statement today in Abuja.
“I am grateful to God for the recognition by Yale. For me, the lesson is that one should never be daunted in doing the right things even in the face of challenges.
“I am thankful for all the support from within the country and the international community, especially from ordinary Nigerians because their support is mirrored in the recognition from Yale,” the statement read.
Okonjo- Iweala was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters at Yale’s 2015 Commencement Ceremony in United States on Monday.
Yale University is one of the U.S. most prestigious institutions of higher learning.
It said that she was the second Nigerian in the university’s 314-years history to receive its highest honour after Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka who received an honorary Doctor of Letters in 1980.
According to the statement, the President of the University, Prof. Peter Salovey, described Okonjo-Iweala as a brilliant reformer and dedicated public servant.
“Okonjo-Iweala spearheaded efforts to stabilise and grow Nigeria’s economy, battling widespread government corruption and creating greater fiscal transparency and discipline.
“Yale’s honorary doctorate degree is seen globally as a very important honour.
“Those who have received honorary degree are scholars, public servants, Nobel Prize winners and heads of states.
“Collectively, they represent the aspirations of this institution,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Yale honorary degree recipients serve as models of excellence and service to students, graduates, community and to the world.
