Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala takes part in a discussion on "Challengers of Job-Rich and Inclusive Growth: Growth and Reform Challenges" during the World Bank/IMF Annual Meeting in Washington in this October 8, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/Files
FeaturedHighlightTop StoryTrending Story

Breaking: Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala named WTO Director-General

39

 

Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been appointed the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the first African and female to head the world body.

WTO has been rudderless since Brazilian career diplomat, Roberto Azevedo, stepped down in August 2020, a year ahead of schedule.

South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee had been the remaining contender for the post but pulled out when it became clear that new US President Joe Biden was backing Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy.

The WTO called a virtual special general council meeting at which member states officially selected the former Nigerian finance minister and World Bank veteran as the global trade body’s new director-general.

She will take up her post on March 1st and her term, which is renewable, will run until August 31, 2025.

The near-paralysed institution desperately needs a kick-start — something Okonjo-Iweala immediately addressed after being confirmed in the job.

“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic,” the 66-year-old economist said in a statement.

“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again.

“Our organisation 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 process of picking one of eight candidates to succeed her predecessor, had been expected to wrap up by November, but the administration of former US president Donald Trump blocked the consensus to appoint Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala, who boasted of US, EU and African backing, was not at the WTO’s Geneva headquarters for Monday’s meeting, but was scheduled to hold an online press conference after its conclusion.

She will take over an organisation mired in multiple crises and struggling to help member states navigate the severe global economic slump triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Okonjo-Iweala argued during the race that she was best placed out of the eight candidates for the post to steer the WTO through the crises, calling herself a reform candidate.

She warned that growing protectionism and nationalism had been spurred on by the pandemic and insisted barriers needed to be lowered to help the world recover.

Even before Covid-19 battered the global economy, the WTO was weighed down by stalled trade talks and struggled to curb trade tensions between the United States and China.

The WTO also faced relentless attacks from Washington under Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump. Among other things, Trump brought the WTO’s dispute settlement appeal system to a grinding halt in late 2019.

On her agenda for the organization, Okonjo-Iweala has said her priorities include getting long-blocked trade talks on fishery subsidies across the finish line and breathing life back into WTO’s Appellate Body.

Twice Nigeria’s finance minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and its first female foreign minister in a two-month stint in 2006, Okonjo-Iweala is seen as a trailblazer in her homeland.

She has brushed off claims she lacks experience as a trade minister or negotiator.

She has portrayed herself as a champion against Nigeria’s rampant corruption — saying her own mother was even kidnapped over her attempts to tackle the scourge.

But her critics argue she should have done more to tackle it while in power.

A development economist by training with degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Okonjo-Iweala has also had a 25-year career as a development economist at the World Bank, eventually becoming its number two.

She is on the Twitter board of directors and chaired Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Asake opens up: Love of money propels pursuit of my career

Music sensation and Grammy Award nominee, Asake, has candidly shared insights into...

NPA committed to rallying stakeholders to optimize nation’s rich blue economy – NPA boss, Bello Koko

“Coming immediately after the launch of her sister ship “Great Antwerp, the...

Pilotage contract: INTEL waives $193m interest on debt — NPA

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says INTELS Nigeria Ltd. has waived $193...

It is unfair to assume all actors are wayward – Olayode Juliana (Toyo Baby)

Actress, Juliana Olayode better known as Toyo Baby has ventured into motivational...

Tragedy! Three Oyo State monarchs die in road crash

  Oyo State has lost three traditional rulers in a single day...

NNPC Ltd’s Kyari, U.S. Sen. Kerry, Moynihan, others brainstorm on climate issues at COP28 in UAE

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,...

Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce inagurates Atelly as 18th President, unveils programmes

Ray Atelly has been sworn in as the 18th President of the...

NIPR inducts 327 new members in Abuja

No fewer than 327 people have been admitted as members of the...

Nigeria, Germany sign historic power deal to boost national grid by 12,000 MW

Nigeria and Germany have strengthened their bilateral relations with the signing of...

CBN to freeze accounts without BVN,NIN from March 2024

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Friday that it will...

Legia Fans Set Policeman On Fire, Injure Three Others

Legia football fans set a police officer on fire and injured three...

Ethiopian Airlines bans use of ‘Ghana- Must-Go’ bags by passengers

Ethiopia Airlines has prohibited the use of matted woven bags popularly known...

From playful antics to YouTube stardom with ‘Iya Barakat’ character: My success story – Bimbo Ademoye

Nigerian actress, Bimbo Ademoye, has opened up on the tenacity behind her...

Dare Art Alade celebrates 17 years of love with wife, Deola

In a heartwarming celebration of love, Nigerian singer, Dare Art Alade, took...

Update on Nigeria’s military helicopter crash: NAF confirms incident, gives details

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its MI-35P helicopter crashed...

Just in: Kogi INEC Resident Commissioner Escapes Death By Hair’s Breadth

In the aftermath of the off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State with...

Breaking: Military helicopter crash lands, explodes in Port Harcourt

A Nigeria Air Force helicopter has crash landed at the NAF Base,...