FG vows to ensure Okonjo-Iweala emerges DG of World Trade Organisation

The Federal Government has promised to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance emerges as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in a press statement on Thursday, October 29, 2020.

The statement titled, ‘Update on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s aspiration to lead the World Trade Organisation,’ was signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye.

This is coming following reports that the United States is blocking Okonjo-Iweala from becoming the Director General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after polling 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat South Korea’s Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

In part, the statement by the ministry says “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 said the United States is the only country opposing the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation after she secured the support of the majority of the member countries.

Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate for director-general, the top job of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). [NAN] Pulse Nigeria

The statement reads further, “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 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.”

Okonjo-Iweala, a two-time minister of finance in Nigeria, was nominated for the position by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 5, 2020.