Okonjo-Iweala is battling a handful of other candidates to replace Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo who surprisingly announced that he will be stepping down from the role on August 31.

Reuters quotes one delegate as referring to Okonjo-Iweala as “definitely the favourite”, especially after European Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan, dropped out of the race.

There are feelers that Okonjo-Iweala is also likely to be accepted by China and the United States--two of the world’s biggest economies.

Africa has struggled to unite behind one candidate in the past. No African has assumed the position of DG of the WTO since the organisation was established in 1995.

The Geneva-based watchdog has also never been led by a woman. There is now a broad feeling in international circles that this is Africa’s turn.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has since endorsed Okonjo-Iweala's candidacy. The former Managing Director of the World Bank told Reuters that she can feel the support from the rest of the African continent as well.

“I cannot presume for any group but I can tell you that I feel strong support from the region," she said.

She also added that she has been having “very constructive conversations” with the 164 members of the WTO. 

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Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh, a former WTO official, is also a candidate and was endorsed by the African Union long before Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy was announced.

The new boss of the WTO will be tasked with overseeing much needed reforms, steer the trading world through a post-COVID recession, clinch multilateral deals, manage rising protectionism and navigate the trade war between China and the United States. 

“The problems are very deep and challenging but there are not insoluble,” Okonjo-Iweala said, stressing the need for reform. 

Critics say she does not have enough direct trade experience. However, she says, being an outsider is an advantage. 

Her backers laud her negotiating skills, including a deal to cancel billions of dollars of Nigerian debt under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

“Over my long career I’ve managed to build relationships and platforms at levels high enough to be able to dialogue with the right people,” she said.

President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Okonjo-Iweala for the position on June 5, 2020, while withdrawing the candidacy of Nigeria’s permanent representative to the WTO, Yonov Frederick Agah.

Governments have until July 8 to nominate their candidates. These candidates will then present themselves to the WTO’s 164 members the week after.

These presentations will likely be done virtually this time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WTO usually chooses a new chief by consensus. Voting is often a last resort. This year could be different, however.