Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is set to be a second-term Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as she is announced as the only candidate vying for the position, News About Nigeria reports.
WTO in a statement on Sunday revealed that Okonjo-Iweala, the incumbent Director-General, is the sole candidate nominated to lead the organisation for a second four-year term.
Speaking for the organization, the chairman of the General Council Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, disclosed that no other nominations were received before the November 8, 2024 deadline.
This development according to him positions Okonjo-Iweala for another term as the Director-General of the global trade body.
He said, “Under the procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509), I am required to communicate to Members a consolidated list of candidatures received for the post of Director-General immediately after the close of the nomination period, in this case, 8 November 2024.
“I would like to advise members that at the end of the nomination period, the only candidacy received for this post is from Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the incumbent director-general. The notification received from Dr Okonjo-Iweala pursuant to paragraph 12 of the Procedures in WT/L/509, was circulated to all Members together with my communication in document JOB/GC/406, dated 16 September 2024.”
Okonjo-Iweala who is WTO’s first African and first female Director-General will conclude her current tenure on 31 August, 2025.
Subsequently, she is expected to continue her second term seeing that she has no rival in the election.
It is noteworthy to note that Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership has been instrumental in pushing forward a reform agenda for the WTO.
