Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala MCP ’78, PhD ’81, an eminent economist who has served as a World Bank development expert and Nigeria’s minister of finance, delivers provides inspiration as an Investiture of Doctoral Hoods speaker, 2 June 2016.

I did not set out to be a development expert or the finance minister of my country, I was preparing to be an academic like my parents. But my doctoral degree and training here prepared me to excel in these other positions. Working toward my degree gave me the analytical and intellectual and leadership skills to pursue a career in development and public policy with confidence.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, MIT Investiture of Doctoral Hoods, 2016