- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has hailed Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over her reappointment as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Tinubu lauded the former Minister of Finance in a congratulatory message issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.
The Nigerian leader expressed his delight with Okonjo-Iweala’s unanimous appointment for a second four-year term which he claimed demonstrates the trust and confidence the international community places in her leadership to advance multilateral trade for sustainable global development.
He also expressed confident that her continued leadership will strengthen the international economic organisation’s role as a critical pillar of inclusive global economic growth and good governance in the next four years.
President Tinubu further assured Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria’s steadfast support as she consolidates her bold reforms, dedication to equitable global trade practices, and tireless efforts to promote international cooperation.
He maintained that as a committed member of the WTO, ECOWAS, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria will continue to support the WTO’s mission to foster a fair, inclusive, and equitable multilateral trading system.
As contained in the statement, Okonjo-Iweala, a renowned development economist and global finance expert, made history in 2021 as the first African and first woman to lead the 164-nation-member WTO.
Her first term as the seventh Director-General of the WTO will expire on August 31, 2025, while the second term begins September 1.