The Nigeria-born Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is the sole candidate for a second term contesting for the same office following the end of the nominations for the position.
This means she would have a smooth sail for another four-year term in office
This was disclosed by the chair of the WTO General Council, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway,. He informed the members WTO General Council on Saturday that no further nominations for the position of Director-General had been received at the expiration of the deadline of November 8, stating that the incumbent Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, emerged as the only candidate for the position..
On October 8, the WTO formally commenced the process for appointing its next Director-General, with members given until November 8 to submit nominations However, no nominations were received before the deadline elapsed.
Nigeria’s two-time Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala assumed office as the seventh Director-General of the WTO on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and African to serve in such a capacity.
Her first term of office will expire on August 31, 2025.
The WTO is the only international organisation that regulates and facilitates global trade by establishing rules of trade between nations.
At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments.
The fundamental goal of the WTO, as set out in the organisation’s founding agreement, is to use trade as a means to improve people’s living standards, create better jobs and promote sustainable development.