Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
The official announcement was made by the global trade body via social media, as it 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.”
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@NOIweala pic.twitter.com/2RJkkfK2Id
— WTO (@wto) February 15, 2021
READ: What Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala plans to do as DG of WTO
66-year-old Okonjo-Iweala, by her appointment, becomes the first woman to ever lead the Switzerland-based institution and the first African citizen to take on the role.
President Muhammadu Buhari who has on a number of occasions shown his support for Okonjo-Iweala getting the role has taken to social media to felicitate with her.
In a statement released by the President’s media aide, Garba Shehu, the President said, “On behalf of the Federal Government and all Nigerians, President @MBuhari warmly felicitates with former Minister of Finance and Economy, Dr @NOIweala on her election as Director General of the World Trade Organisation @wto, bringing joy and more honour to the country.”
READ: Nigeria’s foreign trade with US slumps as trade with China grows stronger
In case you missed it
- It would be recalled that the Donald Trump administration had preferred South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, even though Okonjo-Iweala got the nod from the majority of WTO members. The opposition halted the selection process because WTO decisions are made on the basis of a consensus of its members.
- A ray of hope however came when the Okonjo-Iweala’s top rival, Myung-hee pulled out of the race and then, the new US government backing her for the top role.
READ: Okonjo-Iweala will validate the global mandate of repositioning and strengthening the WTO – Buhari
What you should know
- Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman to take on the Nigerian finance ministry (under President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan) and the foreign ministry.
- She was also the first female to run for the World Bank presidency, where she spent 25 years.
- Okonjo-Iweala serves on Twitter’s board of directors, as chair of the GAVI vaccine alliance as well as a special envoy for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 fight.
- Last December, Okonjo-Iweala was named the Forbes African of the Year, 2020.
Well deserved. More power to your elbow as you do Nigeria proud. Wish you a spendid tenure.
No doubt, the World Trade Organization has finally made her choice of Dr. Ngozi Okojo Iweala formal and the the world body has made a laudable choice of a remarkable, capable and committed woman to head the organization. Her choice, undoubtedly, will enhance the position of the organization. Going through the credentials of Ngozi, she is the most qualified of all prospects for the post. It is joyful that President Joe Biden has finally endorsed her candidacy. Ngozi will perform meritoriously and the world at large will benefit from her contribution. Conclusively, I congratulate Ngozi for her new appointment and wish her and her entire family the grace of God in all their endeavors.
Congratulations ma. we celebrate you