WTO: Okonjo-Iweala credits Nigerians for her success

By Modupe Shodeinde

The former Minister of Finance, who is also a candidate for the job of Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has appreciated Nigerians for their support.

Okonjo-Iweala, who made it to the final stage of the selection process, has taken to her twitter handle, to state she could not have done it without the support of Nigerians.

She wrote: “Happy to be in the final round of the @wto DG campaign. Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy.

“I could not have made it without the prayers and support of all Nigerians and friends around the world. Thank you @MBuhari and all my friends. Aluta continua!”

On the 7th of October, after the final rounds of voting for the shortlisted 5 candidates, Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean Yoo Mhung-hee emerged as the last two candidates standing.

The General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand and his co-facilitators in the selection process disclosed that the two candidates secured the broadest and deepest support from membership.

With two women as the last standing candidates for the job of DG of the WTO, the trade organisation is set to have the first female Director General in it’s 25 years history.

Okonjo-Iweala has formerly worked as a Minister of Finance, Managing Director of the World Bank and as a Chairman at the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI)

Mhung-hee who is also contending for the post, is South Korea’s trade Minister She started her career in trade, she said, in the year the WTO was born, 1995.

She has been involved in some of South Korea’s key trade negotiations in that period, including with China and the US.

The third and final stage will end on 6th of November after which the WTO will name a consensus winner of the race.

If Okonjo-Iweala should win the final vote, she would become the first African to take the role of WTO Director General.

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