Tag: WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

Okonjo-Iweala resumes as WTO DG today

Aminu Imam

Former finance minister,Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, takes over the World Trade Organisation (WTO) today, amid hopes that she will spur the beleaguered body into addressing its towering challenges, including the pandemic-fuelled global economic crisis. “The WTO is too important to allow it to be slowed down, paralysed and moribund,” the first woman and first African to ever lead the global trade body told AFP a day after her nomination last month. Okonjo-Iweala takes the helm after the WTO was left adrift for seven months following the sudden departure of Brazilian career diplomat…

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WTO: ‘My performance’ll open doors for Africans, women’, says Okonjo-Iweala

Aminu Imam

Ahead of her resumption at the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation, (WTO), on March 1, 2021, Nigeria’s pride, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said her performance in office between March this year and August 31, 2025, will open doors for Africans and women to lead international organisations. Speaking during an interview on a TV programme, the Nigerian development economist said she unabashedly “love being African and being Nigerian”. Known for many firsts including the first female finance minister in Nigeria and now the first female WTO DG, the 66-year-old Harvard graduate said…

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WTO: Okonjo-Iweala emerges as first female, African DG

Aminu Imam

…New D-G lists priorities …”She brought more honour to Nigeria” – Buhari Following the convening of the special council general meeting of the World Trade Organisation, (WTO), its members yesterday agreed by consensus to select Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as the organisation’s seventh Director-General. The official announcement was made by the global trade body via social media, as it tweeted: “Breaking: 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…

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala set to be first African boss of WTO

Aminu Imam

After nearly six months without a leader, the World Trade Organisation, (WTO), looks set to appoint Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its first female and first African leader on Monday. Dr Okonjo-Iweala used to be Nigeria’s finance minister. She is the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. Her task will not be easy. Although she is not a trade expert, says she can be a “clear set of eyes” for the global trade body. It has taken more than six months for the WTO to agree on…

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130 countries, with 2.5 billion people, are yet to be vaccinated – WHO

Aminu Imam

It is estimated globally that about 130 countries, with a total of 2.5 billion people, are yet to be administered with a single dose of Covid -19 vaccine. This disclosure was made by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus at a regular press briefing on COVID-19, in Geneva: “Around 130 countries, with 2.5 billion people, are yet to administer a single dose.” According to Dr Tedros, “On Wednesday, COVAX published its forecast for the distribution of vaccines to participating countries. Countries are ready to go, but the vaccines aren’t there.…

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WTO: Okonjo-Iweala thanks Buhari, Biden

Aminu Imam

Former Nigerian Finance Minister and Nigeria’s candidate for the next Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for their unflinching support. She also thanked the U.S government for endorsing her candidacy. Okonjo-Iweala on her tweet twitter page on Friday also commended her opponent, Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, for the “hard fought race”. The Biden administration had declared support for Okonjo-Iweala on Friday, after over three months of the process being on hold as a result of the…

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WTO D-G bid: ‘We will not relent’, Buhari vows

Aminu Imam

As EU restates support for Okonjo-Iweala President Muhammadu Buhari says the Nigerian Government will not relent until Nigeria’s candidate for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges the next Director-General. The President gave the assurance in a tweet yesterday, following a video conference with the President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina disclosed that the council president reiterated the support of Europe for Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to become the…

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Despite US opposition, Okonjo-Iweala set to become WTO D-G

Aminu Imam

Nigeria’s nominee for the position of the Director-General (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is set to emerge winner of the competitive race. According to Reuters, a key group of WTO ambassadors proposed Okonjo-Iweala to lead the trade organisation yesterday and she won the popular vote by a wide margin, with the expectation of an announcement after their meeting in Geneva, as the heads of the delegation, who met by 3pm, failed to reach a consensus. Although, after the meeting, Reuters reported that the US…

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WTO: Buhari reassures Okonjo-Iweala of support

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of the country’s determination to ensure that she becomes the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee advanced to the final round in the race to lead the Geneva-based trade body. Malam Garba Shehu, President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement, said Buhari gave the assurance when he received the former Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. He said…

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