Obiageli Ezekwesili popularly known as Oby Ezekwesili hails from Anambra State of Nigeria. Obiageli Ezekwesili is a Chartered accountant. She was a co-founder of Transparency International, serving as one of the pioneer directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany. She served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals (Mines and Steel) in June 2005 during which time she led a vibrant reform program that led to Nigeria's global recognition as a credible mining investment destination. She was also the Chairperson of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and led the first ever national implementation of the global standards and principles of transparency in the oil, gas and mining sector.
She was later appointed as Federal Minister of Education during the second-term presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. She held this position until she took up appointment as the Vice-President of the World Bank's Africa division from May 2007 to May 2012.
In 2014, Oby Ezekwesili’s advocacy efforts led to her being the co-founder of the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media which trended internationally.
ObyEzekwesili will be speaking at the Platform on;