Africa.com is pleased to extend a special invitation to join the livestream of the 19th Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture, a signature event that brings together history, leadership, and global dialogue. This year’s lecture will be delivered by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), offering a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the world’s most influential voices on trade and development. Hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, the Chief Albert Luthuli Foundation (CALF), the Luthuli Museum, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the event honors the enduring legacy of Chief Albert Luthuli, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose moral courage and commitment to justice continue to shape South Africa and inspire the world. Join us live as we reflect on leadership, global cooperation, and the impact of the WTO in today’s interconnected world.
THEME: Reflecting on the Work of the World Trade Organization and Its Global Impact
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a globally respected economist and international development leader with more than four decades of experience shaping global finance and trade policy. In 2021, she made history as the first woman and first African to serve as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In this role, she has worked to strengthen the multilateral trading system, promote equitable growth, and ensure that trade serves as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development. Before joining the WTO, she served twice as Finance Minister of Nigeria, where she implemented far-reaching economic reforms, negotiated major debt relief agreements, and helped stabilize her country’s economy.Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s distinguished career also includes 25 years at the World Bank, where she rose to the position of Managing Director of Operations. She has chaired and advised several international organizations, including the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, the African Union’s COVID-19 Special Envoy Team, and the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate. A visionary advocate for equity and good governance, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala continues to champion the role of trade as a catalyst for opportunity, innovation, and shared prosperity across the world.
Honoring Chief Albert LuthuliThe annual Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture celebrates the enduring legacy of Chief Albert Luthuli, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, humanitarian, and President of the African National Congress (ANC) during the height of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.On 30 October 2025, a High Court inquest into his death — 58 years later — ruled that he was murdered by the apartheid security police.Judge Nompumelelo Hadebe of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court overturned the 1967 inquest into Chief Albert Luthuli’s death, ruling that he was murdered by apartheid security police. Rather than dying in a train accident, the court found that Luthuli suffered a fractured skull, cerebral hemorrhage and brain concussion consistent with an assault, and that his death was “directly attributable” to the actions of the security branch in concert with employees of the South African Railways. (iol.co.za)Chief Luthuli’s moral leadership, courage, and steadfast commitment to justice continue to inspire generations in South Africa and beyond.
Honoring Chief Albert Luthuli
The annual Chief Albert Luthuli Memorial Lecture celebrates the enduring legacy of Chief Albert Luthuli, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, humanitarian, and President of the African National Congress (ANC) during the height of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.
On 30 October 2025, a High Court inquest into his death — 58 years later — ruled that he was murdered by the apartheid security police.
Judge Nompumelelo Hadebe of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court overturned the 1967 inquest into Chief Albert Luthuli’s death, ruling that he was murdered by apartheid security police. Rather than dying in a train accident, the court found that Luthuli suffered a fractured skull, cerebral hemorrhage and brain concussion consistent with an assault, and that his death was “directly attributable” to the actions of the security branch in concert with employees of the South African Railways. (iol.co.za)
Chief Luthuli’s moral leadership, courage, and steadfast commitment to justice continue to inspire generations in South Africa and beyond.
