The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has accepted the nomination of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister and former Managing Director of World Bank, as one of the candidates for the position of the Director-General of the organization.
Earlier this month, President Muhammadu Buhari approved Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination for the position of director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but the Egyptian government whose nominee for the same post is Mr. Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh, had objected arguing that the nomination was late as members of AU had been directed to nominate candidates for the director-general position since November 30, 2019.
Stating its position on the matter the WTO in a statement released on Tuesday June 9, acknowledged Okonkwo-Iwela’s nomination, equally stating that nominations are still open till July 8, 2020.
The statement reads, “Nigeria nominates Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for post of WTO Director-General.
“Nigeria, on 9 June 2020, nominated Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of WTO Director-General to succeed the current Director-General, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step down on 31 August 2020.
“According to the timetable announced by the Chair of the General Council, David Walker, the nomination period will close on 8 July 2020.
“Shortly after the nomination period has closed, candidates will be invited to meet with members at a special General Council meeting, present their views and take questions from the membership.”
The current WTO Director-General, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, has announced he will step down on August 31, 2020.
Other nominees for the post, so far, include Mr. Jesús Seade Kuri of Mexico and Mr. Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is a world-renowned economist and international development expert. She currently sits on the Boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, and the African Risk Capacity.
