World Trade Organisation Names Okonjo-Iweala Among Candidates for DG Election

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has named Nigerian former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as one of three candidates in the running for the position of Director General this summer.

On Tuesday, the WTO announced that Nigeria’s bid had been accepted along with Egypt’s Mr. Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh and Mexico’s Mr. Jesús Seade Kuri.

Nigeria’s President Buhari ruffled feathers by supporting her bid last week over Nigeria’s existing candidate, the WTO’s current Deputy Director-General, Yonok Frederick Agah.

Egypt’s has been vocal in its opposition to Mrs Okonjo-Iweala nomination as it was so tardy.

In an open letter to the African-Union (AU) member states, Egypt pointed out that all AU member-states had been required to nominate candidates for the Director-General position by November 30, 2019, over five months ago, while the request to substitute Yonok Frederick Agah was made on June 4, 2020.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has an impressive resumé of public service and economic expertise. Having held a 25-year career in the World Trade Organisation, she later served twice as Nigeria’s Minister for Finance under Olesegun Obaranjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala also briefly held the position on Foreign Minister in 2006, becoming the first woman in Nigeria to hold both positions.

During her time in the WTO as Managing Director (Operations), she oversaw $49.3 billion in grants to low-income countries and spearheaded programs to support developing African nations.

The three candidates will be invited to present their views to the WTO’s General Council after the nomination period officially closes on 8 July 2020. The WTO’s current Director-General Roberto Azevêdo is expected to step down on 31 August 2020.

Photo: AllAfrica