Fifty-eight of the 164 member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have expressed support for a proposal from the African Group to back Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current director general, for a second term.
This endorsement was announced during a July 22 meeting of the WTO General Council, as per a statement from the global trade body.
“The African Group requests that the current Director-General make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the Director-General should be started as soon as possible,” the statement read.
The 58 member countries, including several representing groups of members, voiced their support for the African Group’s proposal.
They urged Okonjo-Iweala to declare her intentions for a second term promptly. Many members lauded her hard work and accomplishments during her first term.
Expressing her gratitude, Okonjo-Iweala, 70, said, “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together.”
She acknowledged the members’ call and indicated that she would seriously consider it, promising to inform them of her decision soon.
Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh director-general of the WTO, assumed office on March 1, 2021, for a four-year term set to expire on August 31, 2025. She is eligible for reelection.
The former Nigerian finance minister overcame several opposition to become the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.
Prior to her current role, she served as Nigeria’s finance minister twice, from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015, and briefly as foreign minister in 2006, being the first woman to hold both positions.
She also had a distinguished 25-year career at the World Bank, culminating in the role of managing director, operations.
