Tinubu mourns Okonjo-Iweala’s mother

President Bola Tinubu has offered his condolences to the Okonjo family of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, following the passing of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, the mother of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The late scholar was 96 years old. Tinubu described her as a champion of women's empowerment and a revered matriarch.

The President expressed sympathy to Dr Okonjo-Iweala, other family members and the people of Ogwashi-Uku over the loss of their beloved mother, matriarch and community leader. He lauded her life of intellectual distinction, service to humanity and commitment to advancing women and society. Kamene Okonjo was a sociologist renowned for her work on the political and social roles of Igbo women in Western Nigeria.

Her notable works include "The Dual-Sex Political System in Operation" and "The Role of Women in Social Change among the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria." Married to Chukwuka Okonjo, a mathematician and economist who served as Obi of Ogwashi-Uku until his death in 2019, they had seven children, with Okonjo-Iweala being the most well-known, having served twice as Finance Minister and currently leading the World Trade Organisation.