The New Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has rocked an Ankara outfit as she resumed office today in Geneva, Switzerland. Nigerians are hailing for representing Africa with her African print.
Recall that on February 15, 2021, it was announced by WTO on Twitter that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been voted as the next Director-General of WTO. She was voted in by 164 members of the great organisation. Early Monday Morning, Ngozi arrived in grand style at the headquarters of WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.
Following a lengthy selection process, development economist Okonjo-Iweala, who spent 25 years at the World Bank, was finally anointed by the WTO’s 164 members on February 15.
What are some of the issues awaiting Okonjo-Iweala when she takes office?
1. Advancing WTO reforms.
2. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade and economic growth.
3. Ongoing negotiations, including on fisheries subsidiaries.
Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s Finance Minister, a Senior World Bank official and a chairperson of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliances Board. The 66-year-old Director-General of WTO worked with World Bank for 25 years.
Taking to Twitter, WTO administrator welcomed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The tweet reads: “Welcome to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala
on her first day as WTO Director-General!
She makes history as the first woman and first African to take up this post.
“Director-General @NOIweala
& the chair of WTO fisheries subsidies talks @WillsSantiago
welcomed civil society’s plea for a successful conclusion to the negotiations, visiting today an ice sculpture set up in front of the WTO headquarters by the #StopFundingOverfishing coalitionOn her first day as Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala
highlights the importance of the WTO.”
On her first day as Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala @NOIweala
highlights the importance of the WTO:
“I’m coming into one of the most important institutions in the world and we have a lot of work to do. I feel ready to go.”
