Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been confirmed as World Trade Organization’s next Director-General, thereby becoming the seventh Director-General of the organization.
Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment was confirmed by the WTO on its Twitter handle. While confirming the appointment, the WTO tweeted: “BREAKING: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General.
“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.
“Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.
“More details soon. #WTODG”
In her reaction to WTO General Council’s decision to confirm her appointment, Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General.
“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fuly and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”
The General Council’s decision was made after months of uncertainty that sprang up when the United States first refused to support Dr Okonjo-Iweala but supported behind Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea.
But following Ms Yoo’s recent decision to step down, the administration of newly elected US President Joe Biden dropped the United States’ objection and declared support for the candidacy of Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
