- Safiu Kehinde
World Trade Organisation Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is on the verge to secure a second term for the organization’s leadership without facing any opposition.
This was confirmed on Saturday by WTO chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, who declared that “no further nominations for the position” had been received by Friday’s deadline, leaving Okonjo-Iweala as “the only candidate for the role”, according to a statement.
Okonjo-Iweala, 70, became the first woman and first African to chair the WTO after emerging its Director-General in March 2021.
With her current tenure set to conclude in August 2025, Iweala announced her intention to seek a second term in September.
The appointment of the Director-General is made by consensus among the WTO’s 166 member countries, a process she successfully navigated despite initial hurdles.
During her first term, Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy faced resistance from former United States President Donald Trump, who supported a South Korean candidate.
However, this opposition was overturned when President Joe Biden took office, clearing the path for her historic appointment.
Since taking charge, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on reinvigorating the WTO, a global trade body often criticised for bureaucratic inefficiencies and stagnation.