ECOWAS Endorses Okonjo-Iweala For WTO Job

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has endorsed the candidature of Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) top job.

The regional body said no African has assumed the position of the organisation’s director-general since it was created on January 1, 1995.

A statement by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision had the blessing of its highest body, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government.

It reads: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government have endorsed the candidature of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for the period 2012-2025.

“The apex body noted that since the creation of the WTO on January 1, 1995, which is a successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) established on January 1, 1948, no African has assumed the position of Director-General of the organisation.

“The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government endorsed the candidate of Nigeria, noting: ‘Her long years of managerial experience at the top echelons of multilateral institutions, her established reputation as a fearless reformer, her excellent negotiating and political skills, her experience of over 30 years as a Development Economist with a long standing interest in trade, her excellent academic qualifications, her positions as Managing Director World Bank, and currently as Board Chair GAVI, and AU Special Envoy to Mobilise Financial Resources for the fight against COVID-19.’

“The body also called on other African countries as well as non-African countries to endorse her candidature.”
-Nation