Nigeria vows to do all for Okonjo-Iweala becomes WTO DG

Nigeria’s government has vowed to ensure that her candidate, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerges as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, today titled ‘Update on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s aspiration to lead the World Trade Organisation’ said in part that: “Nigeria will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lofty aspiration of her candidate to lead the World Trade Organisation is realised.”The ministry noted that the former Managing Director of the World Bank had secured the support of the majority of the WTO members with only the United States opposing her.It said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the third and final round of the selection process of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization was concluded on Tuesday, 27th October 2020, and the result was formally announced on Wednesday, 28th October 2020.“The candidate from Nigeria, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has secured the support of the majority of the member countries but is yet to be declared and returned as the winner.“This is because apart from winning the election, all the 164 Member States of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus, in accordance with the rule of procedure of the WTO.“It is important to highlight that Dr Okonjo-Iweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus.”It was reported on Wednesday that the Donald Trump’s administration said it won’t back the appointment of Okonjo-Iweala to be the WTO’s next director-general.