AT least 58 countries of the 164 member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) members have indicated support for a proposal from the African Group backing incumbent Director General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for a second term.
A statement by WTO said these supporting countries of the trade association stated this known a July 22 meeting of the Organisation’s General Council, adding: “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 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.”
Okonjo-Iweala, 70, said she was very grateful for the support from members, noting: “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together.”
She, however, stated that although she’s grateful for the support, she would get back to members very soon regarding her intentions.
Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh WTO boss, who took office on March 1, 2021 for a single term of four years, which expires on August 31, 2025, but she is eligible for a second term.
She navigated stiff opposition to become the first woman and the first African to serve as WTO director general. Before then, she twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015 and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.
She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, where she rose to the number two position of Managing Director, Operations.
