BREAKING: Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirmed as WTO’s
By Abisola THOMPSON
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist, has been confirmed as Director General (DG) by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Okonjo-Iweala reacts to WTO appointment, says we need to get global economy going again.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala thereby becomes the first African and the first woman to head the WTO. Her appointment was confirmed on Monday.
WTO members took the decision to appoint Okonjo-Iweala at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world.
She also expressed willingness to make the WTO stronger, adding that the organisation would adapt to “realities of today.”
She 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 fully 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.”
Okonjo-Iweala was announced as WTO DG on Monday
She is the first woman and African to hold the position.
Nigeria’s first woman finance minister trained as a development economist. She has degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
Okonjo-Iweala, 66, spent a quarter of a century at the World Bank, rising to the position of managing director.
WTO is the intergovernmental organization that is concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations.
In a congratulatory message, President of the European Council (EC), Charles Michel said Okonjo-Iweala can count on the full support of the European Union (EU).
“My warmest wishes to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala on your appointment as Director General of @wto. You bring a wealth of experience and expertise at a time when the WTO needs reform. Count on full support of the EU,” Michel tweeted.
My warmest wishes to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala on your appointment as Director General of @wto
You bring a wealth of experience and expertise at a time when the WTO needs reform.
Okonjo-Iweala prevailed over several other candidates in the months-long WTO leadership race, including South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung Hee, her main rival.
