Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General (DG) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has received a significant boost for a potential second term bid in the seat as 58 member nations of the Trade Organization announced their endorsement of her term in office and a bid for another.
The nations, in a statement, at a July 22 meeting of the WTO General Council wrote “The African Group requests that the current Director-General make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the Director-General should be started as soon as possible.”
“Fifty-eight members, several speaking on behalf of groups of members, took the floor to comment and express their support for the African Group proposal. They called on DG Okonjo-Iweala to make her intentions regarding a second term known as soon as possible. Most of these members praised the DG’s hard work and her achievements during her first term,” the statement read.
Responding to the ringing endorsement, Okonjo-Iweala said she was very grateful for the support from members. “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she said.
The director general said that she took the call of members very seriously and was favourably inclined. She said she would get back to members very soon regarding her intentions.
Okonjo-Iweala, came into office on March 1, 2021 for a single term of four years which will expire on August 31, 2025. She is eligible for a second term.
The former Nigerian Finance Minister navigated stiff opposition to become the first woman and the first African to serve as WTO Director-General. Before her current appointment, she twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015. She also briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.
