Okonjo-Iweala Receives Endorsement From 58 Countries For WTO DG Re-Election

Okonjo-Iweala Receives Endorsement From 58 Countries For WTO DG Re-Election

At a WTO General Council meeting on July 22, 58 out of the organization’s 164 member states expressed support for extending the term of current Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for a second term. According to a statement from the WTO, the African Group formally requested Okonjo-Iweala to make herself available for reappointment, proposing that the process commence promptly…….. CONTINUE READING

During the meeting, representatives from various groups endorsed the proposal, praising Okonjo-Iweala’s achievements and urging her to announce her decision on a second term soon. Okonjo-Iweala, 70, acknowledged the support and collaboration that led to her accomplishments, expressing a positive inclination towards the request and promising to communicate her intentions shortly.

Assuming office on March 1, 2021, Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is slated to conclude on August 31, 2025. She made history as the first woman and African to hold the position of WTO Director-General. Prior to this role, she served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and briefly as Foreign Minister, and had a distinguished career as a development economist at the World Bank, ultimately becoming Managing Director of operations.