Posted on: 17 December 2007
The newly appointed Managing Director of the World Bank, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was among five candidates to receive honorary degrees in Trinity College Dublin on Friday, December 14th last. Previous to her new position at the World Bank, she was Finance Minister of Nigeria from 2003-2006 and was also Foreign Minister for a brief period. A deter m ined refor m ist, Okonjo-Iwe al ai s the recipient of nu m erous awards and honours, the l at est being the Euro m arket Foru m award for vision and courage in the design and i m ple m ent at ion of Nigeria ‘s econo m ic refor m programme. She was conferred with a Doctor in Letters.
Liam Mulvihill Director Gener al of the GAA, Liam Mulvihill, one of Ireland ‘s leading sport ad m inistr at ors and regarded as the most progressive Director General in the history of the GAA was conferred with a Doctor in Laws. While GAA chief, he succeeded in transfor m ing the association’s image and m aking it m ore inclusive. Mulvihill oversaw the inclusion of wo m en’s footb al l into the GAA, led the refurbish m ent of Croke Park and the develop m ent of a m useu m there and worked tireles sl y for the re m ov al of clause 42 and the opening of Croke Park to Rugby and So cc er.
Shirin Ebadi Winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace 2003, Shrin Ebadi is the first Iranian and first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was also the first appointed female judge in Iran , but was later demoted from that position when the revolutionaries removed all women from the bench. Ebadi currently practices as a lawyer and remains a potent force in campaigning for the rights of women and children in the country and has published Iran Awakening: A m e m oir of revolution and hope. She was conferred with a Doctor in Laws
Veronica Dunne The renowned soprano, teacher, and prominent promoter of operatic singing teaches voice training at the DIT College of Music as well as the Royal Irish Academy of Music where most of Ireland ‘s fa m ous opera singers have been her students. She is also founder of the ‘Veronica Dunne Intern at ion al Singing Competition’. She received a Doctor in Music for her contribution to music in Ireland .
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga was President of the Republic of Latvia from 1999 up until July of this year. She played a leading role in the transformation of the country in recent years which culminated with Latvia ‘s entry into the European Union. The former president is considered an outspoken pundit on soci al issues, m or al v al ues, European historic al di al ogue and democracy and was awarded the 2005 Hannah Arendt Prize for politic al thought. She was conferred with a Doctor in Laws.
