At last, Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala becomes WTO’s first female, African Director General
Nigeria’s former finance minister Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Monday was announced the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as she made history as the first female to head the global trade watchdog.
The appointment of the ex-World Bank managing director was made on Monday when the WTO General Council agreed by consensus to select Okonjo-Iweala as the organization’s seventh Director-General.
Okonjo-Iwealais who will become the first woman and the first African to be chosen as Director-General is expected to resume office on March 1, 2021. Her term, renewable, will expire on August 31, 2025.
“This is a very significant moment for the WTO. On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.
“Dr Ngozi, on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience.
Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General,” said Okonjo-Iweala.
“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.
