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By Samaila Emmanuel Bzugu
Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has officially emerged as the sole candidate for a second term as director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The WTO announced that Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister of Nigeria, has agreed to continue in the organization’s top position.
Nominations for Director-General closed; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the sole candidate
In a statement released on Saturday, the WTO confirmed, “Nominations for Director-General closed; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the sole candidate.”
Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, who chairs the WTO General Council, informed WTO members on November 9 that no additional nominations had been received by the November 8 deadline, making Okonjo-Iweala the only candidate for the role.
Okonjo-Iweala expressed her willingness to serve a second four-year term in a letter sent to the Chair
On September 16, Okonjo-Iweala expressed her willingness to serve a second four-year term in a letter sent to the Chair. The process for appointing the next Director-General officially began on October 8, following which members were invited to propose nominations until November 8.
According to the WTO, further details regarding the next steps in the appointment process will be communicated by the chair of the General Council in the coming days.
Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to conclude on August 31, 2025
The WTO noted that this process was conducted in accordance with its “Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General.”
Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to conclude on August 31, 2025. Having been appointed the WTO director-general on February 15, 2021, she made history as the first woman and the first African to lead the trade organization.
