The New World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
ICMS, Inc. Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D.
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| Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala |
In this article we feature and spotlight Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, a prominent Nigerian Woman, a female role model and influencer.
On February 15, 2021 Dr. Okonjo Iweala made history when the World
Trade Organization (WTO) General Council decided by consensus to pick her as
the organization’s seventh Director-General of the organization. On March 1,
2021 she formally assumed office becoming the first African and female to be
selected as Director-General. Her term of office which is renewable, will
finish on 31 August 2025.
The need for a new WTO Director General began when the former
Director-General Mr Roberto Azevêdo informed WTO members that he was stepping down
from his post one year prior to the expiration of his term. The selection of
Dr. Okonjo Iweala as Director General occurred over a nine month process which
was led by General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand, together with
co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund
(Iceland).
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| Dr Okonjo-Iweala first day at work as WTO Director General |
Dr Okonjo-Iweala has indicated that she intends to work with members of
the WTO to address the economic and health consequences brought about by the
COVID-19 pandemic as a key priority of hers.
Dr. Okonjo Iweala has been a real role model and pace setter for Nigerian women. Her accomplishments include being:
- The First Woman Finance Minister of Nigeria;
- The First Nigerian Woman Minister for Foreign Affairs;
- The First Nigerian and Nigerian Woman to be elected into the Twitter Board of Directors;
- The First Woman to win Forbes “African of The Year Award" and
- The First Woman and First African elected to be the Director General of WTO.
