WTO accepts Nigeria’s nominee, Okonjo-Iweala, to contest DG’s election

The World Trade Organisation has formally acknowledged Nigeria’s nominee, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Coordinating Minister for Economy, for the position of director-general. The global trade organisation on Tuesday in a statement wrote, “Nigeria, on 9 June 2020, nominated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of WTO Director-General to succeed the current Director-General, Mr Roberto […]

The World Trade Organisation has formally acknowledged Nigeria’s nominee, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Coordinating Minister for Economy, for the position of director-general.

The global trade organisation on Tuesday in a statement wrote, “Nigeria, on 9 June 2020, nominated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of WTO Director-General to succeed the current Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step down on 31 August 2020.

“According to the timetable announced by the Chair of the General Council, David Walker, the nomination period will close on 8 July 2020.

“Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership”, it added.

Based on the election timeline schedule, the election for the position of the DG is to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2021 for a four-year term that would run from 2021 to 2025.

Currently, Okonjo-Iweala chairs the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, a public-private global health partnership established with the aim of increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. She is a former managing director (operations) at the World Bank.

It would be recalled that President Buhari recently approved the nomination of the former minister for the DG’s position.