Tag: WTO Race

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 Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its first female and first African leader on Monday. Dr Okonjo-Iweala used to be Nigerias 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…

Read More

Just In! WTO: South Koreans Myung-hee withdraws from race, Okonjo-Iweala remains sole candidate

Aminu Imam

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian finance minister, has become the sole candidate in the World Trade Organisations Director-General race, as the South-Korean candidate for the position, Yoo Myung-hee, withdrew her bid to contest. This was disclosed by Myung-hee after she had mentioned it to the United States, according to Bloomberg. This means that Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is now the sole candidate left in the race. Yoo Myung-hee is South Koreas Trade minister and its candidate for the top job at the WTO following the resignation of Roberto Azevedo. Okonjo-Iweala had secured…

Read More

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges Forbes ‘Africa Person of the Year 2020’

Aminu Imam

Nigerias first female minister of finance and the prime candidate for the office of the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. (Mrs.) Okonjo-Iweala, joins a list of eminent Africans to have received the award. In 2019, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), won the award for his outstanding work at the bank and a sterling career in agriculture and finance.  Other eminent Nigerians to have bagged the award are Muhammad Sanusi II (2011), former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Aliko Dangote (2014), president of…

Read More

WTO Race: Okonjo-Iweala, one other candidate advance to final stage

Ishaku Yohanna

World Trade Organization members selected two final candidates Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Koreas Yoo Myung-hee to advance to the final round in the race to lead the Geneva-based trade body, according to people familiar with the matter. By advancing two women to the final round of the selection process, the WTO will likely have the first female director-general in its 25-year history. Okonjo-Iweala served two stints as Nigerias finance minister and one term as foreign affairs minister. She has experience working at international governance bodies as a former managing…

Read More