Eighteen years after her father the Obi of Ogwashi Uku, Delta State, Prof. Chukuka Okonjo, was inducted a Fellow of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) in 1995, it was the turn of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to abe similarly honoured. This morning at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala was conferred with the fellowship of the NES during the opening of the organisation’s 54^thannual conference.

She was honoured alongside former Minister of Health Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, for her scholarship as well as tremendous contributions to the economic development of Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared the event open. The conference theme is “Institutions, Institutional Reforms and Economic Development: Analytical and Policy Perspectives”.

Said Okonjo-Iweala: “I am very delighted to have been made a fellow of this great society which has been in existence even before the country became an independent nation”, said the minister.

“NES is an enduring institution and we hope that it will continue to contribute to helping the federal government build institutions; create jobs; as well as develop different sectors of the economy in order to improve lives,” she added.

President Jonthan emphasised the need for every Nigerian to be part and parcel of the fight to build and strengthen institutions for the good of the country.

NES was formed in 1957 by Nigerian scholars to provide intellectual leadership in the understanding and management of economic, social and political issues in Nigeria.

•Photo shows Okonjo-Iweala.