Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has been awarded the 2025 Cressey Award by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) for her lifetime contribution to the detection and deterrence of fraud.
The 2025 Cressey award was presented to Mrs. Okonjo Iweala at the global fraud conference taking place in Nashville, in the USA.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who served as finance minister under two Nigerian presidents, delivered the keynote address on Fighting Fraud and Corruption, including the Role of Trade Rules and the WTO at the conference.
Established in 1989, the Cressey Award is named after Dr. Donald Cressey, one of the United States’ foremost fraud experts and a co-founder of the ACFE. The award is presented yearly to individuals who dedicate their careers to combating fraud and promoting integrity.
“The ACFE is honored to recognise Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the recipient of the 2025 Cressey Award, a prestigious honor recognising lifetime achievement in the detection and deterrence of fraud.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s legacy is one of bold reform, global leadership and a relentless pursuit of integrity.
An economist and international development expert with more than 40 years of experience, she previously served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, where she oversaw reforms to fight corruption and was instrumental in the Paris Club’s $30 billion debt write-off for Nigeria.”
She is the first woman and the first African to hold the role of Director-General of the WTO.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said she is very “honoured to receive the prestigious Cressey Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fighting Fraud and Corruption”.
In her words:
“This is an incredible honour and I thank @theACFE for recognising the strength and courage it takes to do this work. With President of @theACFE John D. Gill, CEO – John Warren, and members of the Nigerian Chapters of the Association! Many thanks to Andi McNeal and Leslie Simpson for great organisation.”
