WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick appointed on Thursday former Nigerian Finance and Foreign Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as a managing director of the World Bank.

    In her new position, Okonjo-Iweala will have responsibility for the World Bank's Africa, South Asia, and Europe and Central Asia Regions. She will also take oversight responsibility for Human Resources. Her appointment is effective Dec. 1.

    "Ngozi brings a unique set of skills and experience to the World Bank Group," said Zoellick in a statement. "As an outstanding Minister of Finance and Foreign Minister in Nigeria, Ngozi helped lead the country's reform program on issues of fiscal prudence, transparency of government accounts, good governance, and anti-corruption."

    "She led Nigeria's quest for debt relief and helped her country obtain an unprecedented 18 billion dollar write-off from the Paris Club. She is an internationally respected world leader," Zoellick added.

    Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian national, is Founder of NOI-Gallup polls, an indigenous Nigerian opinion research organization, and co-founder of the Makeda Fund a fund to invest in African women entrepreneurs. From 2003-2006, she served as Finance Minister and subsequently Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria.

    She is currently a distinguished fellow at the Washington's Brookings Institution.

    Accepting the appointment, Okonjo-Iweala said: "I am delighted to be coming back, and I welcome the opportunity to work through this great institution to make a difference in the lives of our youth, and our hardworking men and women in the developing world."