Former Finance Minister of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been selected by the World Trade Organization as one of the three nominated candidates likely to be the next Director General after due consultation at the General Council Meeting.
President Muhammadu Buhari had last week endorsed the Nigeria’s nomination of the former finance minister, Okonjo-Iweala for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) top job.
On 9th June 2020, World Trade Organisation confirmed the nomination of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the post of the organisation’s Director-General. If the Congress meeting goes in the favour of her, Dr. Okonjo-Iweal will succeed the current Director-General, Mr Roberto Azevêdo, who has announced he will step down on 31 August 2020.
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala is an economist and international development expert. She sits on the Boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, and the African Risk Capacity.
According to the situation analysis done by 9News Nigeria international reporters, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appears to be the most qualified candidate judging from the past portfolio and performance of the rest two candidates.
Candidates for World Trade Organisation Director General selection process 2020
The following candidates have been nominated by their respective governments 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. The candidates are listed in the order the nominations were received.
- Mr Jesús Seade Kuri – From Mexico and nomination was confirmed by WTO on 8th June 2018. Biography
- Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – From Nigeria and nomination was confirmed by WTO on 9th June 2018. Biography
- Mr Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh – From Egypt and nomination was confirmed by WTO on 9th June 2018. Biography
WTO Director-General selection process
The procedures for appointing the WTO Director-General are described in document WT/L/509. General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand informed members on 20 May 2020 the appointment process for the next Director-General would formally commence on 8 June with nominations accepted from that date until 8 July.
