My time in public office
Two former politicians in Nigeria and South Africa discuss why they chose to take on their roles, the realities of political life, and why a thick skin is critical.
Two former politicians reveal the realities of life in public office. They talk to Kim Chakanetsa about why they went into politics, what impact they had and why a thick skin is absolutely critical.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian economist who served two terms as finance minister of Nigeria from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015, having previously been a managing director at the World Bank. But holding political office was never part of her plan. Instead she was appointed to the role by the then president. She became the first female finance minister in Nigeria. She says her father had always impressed upon her the importance of doing one's duty for one's country, but now she's left politics she enjoys the freedom of having more control over her life. She currently chairs the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
Lindiwe Mazibuko is a South African politician and former parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance. Lindiwe was elected to parliament aged 29, and was seen as a rising star of the party, but faced misogynistic attacks as her profile grew. She resigned her position in 2014, saying she wanted to pursue postgraduate studies at Harvard University in the US. She's now writing a book about young people and public office, but hopes to return to front-line politics in a few years' time.
Image: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Credit: Shaun Curry/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Image: Lindiwe Mazibuko. Credit: Rodger Bosch/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Clips
-
How I dealt with sexism in parliament
Duration: 01:17
-
My first day as finance minister
Duration: 01:05
Broadcasts
- Mon 25 Sep 2017 02:32GMT成人快手 World Service UK DAB/Freeview, Online, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 25 Sep 2017 03:32GMT成人快手 World Service South Asia & East Asia only
- Mon 25 Sep 2017 04:32GMT成人快手 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Mon 25 Sep 2017 06:32GMT成人快手 World Service Australasia
- Mon 25 Sep 2017 10:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
- Mon 25 Sep 2017 21:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
- Sun 1 Oct 2017 18:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
Featured in...
The best of The Conversation—The Conversation
Enlightening, inspiring, revealing: Some of our favourite Conversations so far
The best of The Conversation
Enlightening, inspiring, revealing: Some of our favourite Conversations so far
100 Women
Global experience on image, work, relationships, equality, migration and working lives
Podcast
-
The Conversation
Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives