World Trade Organization Confirms Okonjo-Iweala As New DG

Okonjo-Iweala

Nigeria's Okonjo-Iweala has been officially appointed and announced as the new Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This was announced by the organization in a tweet posted on Monday, February 15.

The tweet reads;

“Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General. 

“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. 

"Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021."

The former Nigeria's minister of finance had secured the popular vote by a wide margin on October 28, 2020, but was not named the DG due to US Government opposition.

The WTO after the October meeting had said that Okonjo-Iweala had the best chance of getting a consesus.

The US had said it favoured more Okonjo-Iweala's top Korean rival, Yoo mhyung-hee, because the WTO was in dire need of reform and must be led by "someone with real and hands-on experience in the field."

The Donald Trump-led administration had opposed Iweala's backing as the new WTO-DG.

However, the new US Joe-Biden administration expressed strong backing and support for Okonjo-Iweala's candidacy for the top job.