In what can be regarded as a global recognition of an illustrious daughter of Nigeria with international repute, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is on course for a second term as she remains the sole candidate for the prestigious post of Director-General of the WTO.
Confirming the development in a statement on Saturday, the WTO chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, said that “no further nominations for the position” had been received by Friday’s deadline, leaving Okonjo-Iweala as “the only candidate for the role”.
It is instructive to note that 70-year-old Okonjo-Iweala had announced her intention to seek a second term in September.
Her current tenure, which began in March 2021, will end in August 2025.
The appointment of the Director-General is made by consensus among the WTO’s 166 member countries, a process she successfully navigated despite initial hurdles.
During her first term, Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy faced resistance from former United States President Donald Trump, who supported a South Korean candidate.
But Trump’s opposition was overturned when President Joe Biden took office, clearing the path for Okonjo-Iweala’s historic appointment.
Since taking charge, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on reinvigorating the WTO, a global trade body often criticised for bureaucratic inefficiencies and stagnation.
