How Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Reacted After Her Appointment As WTO DG—-It has been a wide jubilation as President Muhammadu Buhari, the United States, China and governors on Monday welcomed the announcement of former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that they said in their congratulatory messages to Okonjo-Iweala on Monday that they had no iota of doubt that she would take the 26-year-old inter-governmental organisation responsible for the regulation of international trade to higher heights.
With her selection, the erstwhile World Bank Managing Director becomes the first black, first African, and first female to lead the trade organisation.
She takes over from Roberto Azevêdo, who stepped down August 31, 2020, a year before the expiration of his mandate.
The WTO had in a terse statement said: “Members have just agreed to appoint Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as the next director-general. Dr Okonjo-Iweala will become the first woman and the first African to head the WTO.”
The trade organisation explained that the decision was taken at its general council’s special meeting.
The statement added that Okonjo-Iweala “will assume duties on March 1, while her term will expire on August 31, 2025, but it could be renewed.”
We need to get global economy going again, Okonjo-Iweala
In her acceptance speech, Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO would get the global economy running again during her tenure.
She expressed willingness to make the WTO stronger, adding that the organisation would adapt to the “realities of today.
Her words: “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO DG. 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 organisation 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.”
