Nigeria moves to give final backing to Okonjo-Iweala as WTO’s boss
By Tanko Mohammed
The Presidency has assured the nation of its commitment to engage the relevant authorities to ensure the emergence of Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Nigeria’s former finance minister is reported to have polled 163 out of the 164 votes to emerge winner but the United State has yet to adopt her.
US is backing Okonjo-Iweala’s sole opponent, Ms. Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea.
A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled, ‘Update on Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s aspiration to lead the World Trade Organisation’, and signed by its spokesperson, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, said Nigeria would continue to engage relevant stakeholders on the issue.
He stated that a meeting of the General Council of the WTO had been scheduled for November 9, 2020, for the final decision on the election process.
”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.”